Welcome to FREE ALL CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS (FACE)
FACE is the ONLY non-profit in the nation dedicated solely to rescuing elephants held in captivity in North America.
FACE is committed to getting elephants to sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). GFAS is the gold standard for sanctuaries.
The work of FACE is vital in getting captive elephants to the sanctuaries ready and waiting to receive them.
OUR HISTORY
In 2015, current FACE Vice President, Robin Vitulle and current FACE Treasurer, Michelle Weirich, joined the Save Nosey Now Facebook Group to help advocate for the freedom of Nosey the elephant. In 2016, current FACE President, retired attorney, Dee Gaug became a member of this same Facebook Group to join the fight. Realizing that in order to have maximum impact, the Facebook group needed to take real action and it was imperative to get its nonprofit status to do so. In March of 2017, Save Nosey Now became a Florida nonprofit organization. By November 2017, Nosey was seized and placed at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. But our work for captive elephants was far from over. By incorporating, we were able to expand our mission and work towards saving MORE captive elephants.
In August of 2019, to lessen confusion between the Save Nosey Now Facebook group and the nonprofit organization (Save Nosey Now, Inc.), we changed our name to:
Free All Captive Elephants (FACE)
Click here to view the: FACE Official Name Change Document
More importantly, the name Free All Captive Elephants (FACE), is in line with our vision to free ALL captive elephants who are living in inhumane conditions now that Nosey is safe at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
PLEASE NOTE: FACE is not in any way associated with the new organization named Save Nosey Now, Inc. which incorporated in 2019 using our former name.
Click here to view: Save Nosey Now, Inc. Incorporation Document
OUR MISSION
Where will these elephants go? FACE is dedicated to getting elephants to sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. GFAS is the gold standard for sanctuaries.
OUR VISION
*** Kristin Leppert, Program Director – Wildlife, North, Central and South America of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), explains:
“The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries recognizes and supports true sanctuaries that provide the highest quality of care for animals and exhibit ethical and operational excellence. GFAS Accredited Performing Animal Welfare Society in San Andreas, California and the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee are prime examples of true sanctuaries offering rescued elephants what they need: acres to roam, lakes to enjoy and most importantly, the company of their own species.
True sanctuaries are not places animals go to die. True sanctuaries are where once captive elephants go to LIVE.”



ABOVE IS NOSEY TODAY. This photo of Nosey was taken just a short time after she arrived at the sanctuary after she was seized
in Alabama on November 9th, 2017. Nosey is grazing peacefully AT THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE,
where she is thriving under the excellent care she has needed for so long.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO?
Photo by: Gigi Glendinning
Traveling wild animal performances are an antiquated form of animal abuse that has been going on for centuries. In circuses, elephants are forced to perform under threat of punishment and confined in cramped enclosures as they are hauled from venue to venue.
Performing elephants are deprived of all that is natural to them.
To train a wild animal into submission, methods used include beating, electric shock (hot shots), food and water deprivation and brutal intimidation. Elephants do not stand on their heads, sit on stools, stand on their hind legs or give rides to humans on their backs because they want to, they do it because they are forced to with brutal training methods. Undercover Training of Elephants These behaviors do NOT occur in the wild.

Photo of Betty: by Gigi Glendinning

Photo of Betty: by Gigi Glendinning

Photo of Nosey before her rescue, performing a trick with members of the audience on her back.

The laws in place to protect elephants are weak and very rarely enforced. Law enforcement authorities are not equipped or trained to handle the thousands of public complaints that are filed annually against exhibitors. Additionally, because of the transient nature of “circus life”, even if they are willing, government agencies are unable to enforce the laws. Many if not all circuses currently on the road, have extensive histories of Federal Animal Welfare Violations. Agency’s inaction makes them complicit in the violations. As a result, captive elephants continue to suffer EVERY day while these agencies are not doing their jobs.

What’s Wrong With Zoos?
We encourage you to read this recent and very insightful article: .Are Elephants Really Better Off?
- Dr. Cynthia Moss – https://www.elephanttrust.org/index.php/meet-the-team/item/dr-cynthia-moss
- Dr. Joyce Poole – https://www.gorongosa.org/our-story/our-team/joyce-poole
- Dr. Caitlin O’Connell – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd0MRjq37uw
- Dr. Toni Frohoff – http://www.terramarresearch.org/about_us/about_toni_frohoff.html
These world renowned scientists are experts in elephant behavior. In their work they witness, analyze and report on the extent of the intellectual and familial superiority of the elephant species.