The Natural State is full of surprises. You never know what you will find here. Did you know that elephants used to live in Arkansas?
I am an Arkansas native and have lived here my entire life. It amazes me that I am still learning new things about this wonderful state.
I just recently learned that Arkansas was home to an elephant sanctuary for over 30 years. I will never know how I missed it!
Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary is a true riddle to be solved. While doing research for this article I realize there isn’t a lot of information about the sanctuary available online. Usually what you find is the same information over and over about the sanctuary and the owners.
It goes something like this…
Elephant Sanctuary in Arkansas
Back in 1990, Scott and Heidi Riddle decided to open an elephant sanctuary. So, Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary was born. It was located in Quitman Arkansas on what is known as the Ozark Mountain Foothills. It was 330 Acres of beautiful Arkansas land.
“Scott and Heidi Riddle met while working at the Los Angeles Zoo. They married in 1986, and opened the sanctuary four years later. Elephants were easy to get then, and zoos didn’t always look at them as a long-term responsibility.” -source
What makes this elephant sanctuary so unique is that it is the only internationally recognized sanctuary which accepts any elephant regardless of species, disposition, or gender.
Sometimes an elephant needs a quiet place to live out their lives away from zoos or circuses. Riddle’s provided that kind of environment for many elephants over the years.
The facility was capable of housing up to 12 elephants at one time.
Is Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary still open?
Here is where the biggest riddle lies. Is Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary still open?
I have tried repeatedly to get in with Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary.
However, I have been unsuccessful. From the little bit of information I found online, the sanctuary closed down in 2020 after the last elephant left.
I even made a call to the state and they gave me the same answer.
The woman I spoke with told me that the sanctuary is temporarily closed and under construction according to their website. I visited the Riddle’s Elephant Sanctuary website and it doesn’t say anything about that. In fact, the only thing under construction is the website itself. It gives no information about the sanctuary.
Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in Arkansas: more information needed
Have you seen the elephants in Arkansas? Do you know if the sanctuary is still open? I would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment below.
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