Animal Odd Couple in Custody Battle

(CBS)  An update now, to one of CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman's most popular stories. It's drawn more than 6 million views online. The story made people smile. That is until the lawyers got involved.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennesseeis home to 14 elephants including what is now the most famous elephant in the world: Tarra - known, not so much for anything she's done, but for the company she keeps. Bella's a stray dog, who just wandered on the property.

Tarra and Bella are still best friends. Unfortunately, the humans in their lives aren't getting along nearly as well.


(Scroll down to watch the video.)

Over the past year there's been a huge falling-out between the Sanctuary Board of Directors - and the Sanctuary founder and former president Carol Buckley.

Animal Odd Couple, Pt. 1
Animal Odd Couple, Pt. 2

The Sanctuary Board of directors fired Buckley a few months ago. It's hard to get a straight answer as to why. Buckley claims she was never told why and the Board says it can't say why -- for legal reasons. Regardless, Buckley is now suing for unlawful termination, defamation, and in a legal first, elephant visitation rights.

Buckly wouldn't talk to us on camera, but her attorney, Noah McPike said, "Carol will be the first to admit that Tarra is like her child."

Buckley got Tarra when the elephant was a year old. She trained it - even taught it how to roller skate. They travelled the country performing and for 20 years were inseparable. Even after Buckly started the Sanctuary in 1995, she would still go out and visit Tarra regularly.

"And now to have that bond suddenly broken, it's harmful to the elephant," McPike said.

"We need to remember that the elephants are not anyone's pets," said William Schaffner. Schaffner is the new president on the Sanctuary Board.

"We're interested in the elephants being as free from human interaction as possible and that's been the philosophy of the sanctuary from the beginning," Schaffner said.

He's right. In fact, before she was fired, Carol told me herself, many times, that elephants don't need human interaction.

"Not only do they not need it. It's important that we don't do that," Buckley said.

That's why they rarely allow visitors - no matter who you are.

"We don't go out on the Sanctuary grounds," Schaffner said.

"You're not allowed out there?" Hartman asked.

"No," he replied. "They are their own intelligent social creatures that interact with themselves."

Again, he's right. They've never had a case where an elephant has shown any long-term signs of missing a human.

So what makes Carol think Tarra is any different? Exhibit - Bella.

Buckley's attorney will argue that Tarra is unique among elephants - that obviously, her ability to love extends beyond the boundary of species -- and that if somehow you could get inside Tarra's head - you'd see that this an elephant -- with humanity.

There is one thing that both sides agree on -- that the sanctuary continues to do tremendous good and deserves continued support.

[Lawrinia]

How very sad that "greed and control" is now a huge part of The Elephant Sanctuary's operation in Tennessee. The elephants are, no doubt, being viewed as just another money-making commodity and it is my understanding that ousting Carol Buckley has been in the works for a long time. The initial mission of the Sanctuary has been lost in the shuffle - thus, the gentle giants who are suppose to be living out their lives in peace are at risk. Bad publicity will delay other elephants from having the opportunity to join the existing herd at the Sanctuary and will also adversely affect the number of contributors and donations. Did anyone think about that when the arm-wrestling,strong-arm tactics against Carol Buckley began?
The details of the lawsuit made available to the contributors has put each of us in a position of taking sides - I, for one, don't have to wait for a court ruling. Regardless of the outcome and based on facts provided, I think the case against Carol Buckley is very weak and "smells" of greed and control freaks at work. Everyone currently affiliated with the operation is"suspect".
To add injury to insult, if the interest of the elephants is foremost in the minds of those still "in charge", how in heaven's name can a group of people deny Carol visitation with her elephant, Tarra? This issue sends a loud and clear message that the elephants (all inclusive) have been forgotten because of uninformed individuals, competition, control, and power which is monopolizing the chain of command!! It is all about money - - -
The negative human elements involved has "polluted" the lives of the gentle giants and there is no other way of looking at it. How very sad that the people now in charge either don't care....or....don't know the difference!
At this time, I will not be sending another dime to The Sanctuary as I now wonder just how my past donations have been used - to pay a lawyer to help "oust" Carol Buckley;to recruit a new CEO who has probably never owned a pet; to pay Scott Blias to stay instead of "walk"; or possibly to provide a perk for each and every greedy Board member to remain on the Board! Further to Scott Blias - he didn't seem to have any known problems working with Carol Buckley from 1995 until 2009. He was easy prey for the Board of Directors' new spin, which meant Carol Buckley had to leave!!
When I feel comfortable that my donations are going toward the care of the elephants instead of being "filtered/laundered" by control freaks, I will again become an active contributor. When the funds become depleted, let the Zeitlins make a deposit matching the funds they were paid when the new Educational facility was built!

[maradru]

If you read the book Modoc, you might have a different feeling about Carol and her desire to see Tarra. I think the author of this book would be a great resource for all parties involved.

[Molly-Pchr]

The courts are involved. And they want to limit our rights to sue for malpractice.

[equus5]

I am also not surprised by the callous manner in which the Board and acting CEO are treating the elephants by denying our continuing relationship. For clarification, the Sanctuary does not own Tarra, never did, never will. I have always belonged to Tarra and have been her guardian since she was one year old. I have legally owned Tarra since she was two and a half years old. At no time did I turn my ownership of her over to the Sanctuary. The matter of my right to see Tarra appears to be one that will have to be settled in a court of law. Tarra and I have been together nearly 36 years; I have no plans to sever our relationship.

- Carol Buckley

[hagan_arnold]

I wish you the best of all possible outcomes Carol.

[avimosh]

To clarify: this comment was not posted by Carol Buckley and she does not know its author.

[LockJawDog]

So Carol said so in a past interview about elephants and human interaction: not only do they (elephants) not need it (human interactions), its important that we don't do that.

I don't get it --Her lawsuit then goes against what she says about human interaction with the elephants.

[avimosh]

Carol's comments were poorly edited. What she actually said was that elephants don't need visitors who come and go, they need long-term relationships because they can bond quickly and deeply with people. Elephants need elephants and caregivers willing to dedicate their lives to them.

[Hayfa123]

Many experts throughout the world testify to Carol Buckley's elephant knowledge and expertise..

http://www.carolbuckley.com/recognition.php

[avimosh]

There is one big principle at work here: the way the board treated Carol Buckley is totally against the spirit and philosophy of the Sanctuary, or at least what it was when Carol was there.

But, as others have posted, Carol will continue to break new ground with her new organization Elephant Aid International (http://www.elephantaidinternational.org). Stay tuned!

[LynneRSimmons]

I was a "friend" on their Facebook, until I made comments about the situation, similar to the ones here. The next time I logged on, I had been "unfriended". Talk about petty! I then cancelled my monthly donation. Thr bureaucracy is killing the Sanctuary, and I just pray the elephants don't suffer as a result.

[JeanSanDiego]

A dear friend of mine encountered a similar instance on The Elephant Sanctuary Facebook page and also on a page that says it supports Carol Buckley and The Elephant Sanctuary. How can you be supporting both these days?? I became interested in this via my friend and feel they are not properly honoring Ms. Buckley. In all fairness one only has to read the lawsuit Ms. Buckley filed to realise that a group of people within her board of director were caught doing something illegal and when she protested they sought revenge. They clearly had their eyes on something other than the welfare of elephants. I might add they have not taken in one elephant since dismissing Ms. Buckley which leads me to thinking that they have their eye on taking donor money and doing as they wish and God knows what they are thinking of doing with all that land. As, my attorney said this is quite the "Onion" where there are many layers and players. This "Onion" has a particularly strong odor and I am glad CBS began covering things before all of the falling out. I seem to recall offers were made from Disney which Ms. Buckley turned down and that offer would have garnered the Sanctuary who knows how much. I think the Board has it's eyes on the green and it is now not all that uncommon to find a Board of a Charity turn on it's Founder or Founders and then squander the assets for personal uses. I had just started to donate and I can not continue to fund them after reading the lawsuit. Once the issues of Ms. Buckley's lawsuit are handled, I may consider donating again. My friend who has been far more involved financially is heart broken to learn that Ms. Buckley has been forbidden to visit Tarra who has never been away from her for more than 2 weeks of time in the last 36 years. Ms. Buckley has certainly been Tarra's Mother and family for all of those years in a very special way. When these animal rights and rescue people have a disagreement they seem to be terribly mean with each other. I find this mean behaviour to be a big put off as on one hand they claim so much love and concern and on the other they act quite hateful. Frankly, I find the Board of Director's behaviour to be quite shameful. I was so happy to find a place other than Facebook to keep up with Carol's work at: http://www.elephantaidinternational.org and I can read Carol's blog there as well. God's Speed Dear Carol in all of your endeavours!!

[Hayfa123]

I think the Board and Mr. Schaeffer takes us all for fools. And on top of it, they- the Board refused to return donations that many of us made thinking Ms. Buckley was in change. Where is the transparency and honesty? They refuse to answer any questions.

People live and work at the Sanctuary. The elephants see people. They DO have relationships with the caretakers. We are not idiots.

For anyone wanting to support Ms. Buckely go to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55941317232#!/group.php?gid=107312185960934. We support her 100%. She should be able to see Tarra as well as be back leading the Sanctuary. She is who the Sanctuary and its mission should be entrusted to.

[slatep]

Some people are just plain idiots. Elephants and other herd animals form very close bonds; not just with the herds; but with people as well. Those in charge should watch some of the Jane Goodall documentaries and see how much love and affection these animals have for her.

[stareles]

What a ridiculous statement! ""We don't go out on the Sanctuary grounds," Schaffner said." Too bad the new president of the Sanctuary board doesn't even know basics of the sanctuary he presides over. Caregivers and some sanctuary staff are on the Sanctuary grounds and in the barns daily with the elephants to feed and monitor them. That is unless they have stopped feeding and giving treatments to the elephants since Carol was fired. Dr Schaffner needs to either educate himself or stop spouting off about the sanctuary he and his fellow board members hijacked.