Bella The Dog Dies; Tarra The Elephant Mourns At Tennessee Sanctuary (VIDEO)

Tragedy struck a pair of unlikely friends who had captured the hearts of caretakers and animal lovers.

Tarra the elephant and Bella the dog began their friendship at The Elephant Sanctuary In Tennessee about eight years ago, according to CBS. Last week, Bella was believed to have been attacked by coyotes and died, leaving Tarra to mourn the loss of her best friend.

Bella and Tarra played and ate together, and often had sleepovers in a barn, according to the Leavenworth Times.

Sanctuary caretakers believe Tarra found Bella's body after the attack and carried her to the spot they often spent time together.

"The idea that she couldn't leave that body and brought it back home is just heartbreaking, but so inspiring," Robert Atikinson, CEO of the Elephant Sanctuary, told Nashville's WKRN News 2.

Once, when Bella suffered a severe spinal cord injury, Tarra patiently waited for her friend's recovery. CBS detailed the moments in a 2010 story:

For three weeks the elephant held vigil: 2,700 acres to roam free, and Tarra just stood in the corner, beside a gate, right outside that sanctuary office...

Then one day, sanctuary co-founder Scott Blais carried Bella onto the balcony so she and Tarra could at least see each other.

"Bella's tail started wagging. And we had no choice but bring Bella down to see Tarra," Blais says.

Bella was first spotted at the sanctuary in the fall of 2003, and died on October 26, 2011. The Elephant Sanctuary set up a tribute page in honor of the deceased canine. Watch one of the videos below and check out the website for more. (Warning: The videos are tearjerkers.)

WATCH:

Comments

[candlesmp]

11:29 PM on 12/26/2011

heartbreaking. Animals feel the loss just like humans do when loved ones die.

How was this dog attacked by coyotes? Was Bella allowed to roam free when they knew that there were coyotes around? Reading about the nature of her death angers me. I'll bet it could have been prevented.

[Hilary P]

05:39 PM on 12/27/2011

Totally agree with you! This dog should have been protected.

[kleanearth]

10:08 PM on 12/26/2011

I am so frustrated! I read the Huffington Post Canada but constantly encounter videos that we cannot access due to our location.. HELLO! I am in Canada!

[exPatPatti]

06:03 AM on 11/16/2011

Now I have to change my micro bio.

This is heart breaking and heartwarming all at once.

[NewsMix]

05:21 AM on 11/15/2011

For Tarra, It's sad that elephants have such long memories. Any other animal would be more like, "Squirrel!

Elephants are absolutely amazing.

[European1919]

02:41 AM on 11/15/2011

Elephants are amazing animals. What a cool team they were. So dog is not just man's best friend, but can be elephant's, too.

[Caroleeena]

02:13 AM on 11/15/2011

So sad!!!

[rheffern]

02:43 PM on 11/14/2011

Good friends are hard to find.

[azdogmama]

11:55 AM on 11/14/2011

Is anyone else a bit upset that Bella was in a position to be attacked by coyotes in the first place? My heart goes out to Tarra, and for sweet Bella.

[villeinourblood]

11:01 AM on 11/16/2011

I completely agree. Making a tribute video and donation fund really doesn't mean anything for these two. Bella is still dead, and Tarra still lost a friend. It could have and should have been prevented.

[Monette50]

07:18 AM on 12/02/2011

Yes I am. They capitalized on the devotion of this incredible dog yet apparently they had to go looking for her the next morning. She deserved a whole lot better than a coyote attack for a farewell.

[sam miller68]

07:24 PM on 11/13/2011

Tarra - I am so sorry for your loss! Your friendship was one we could hopefully all learn from. My 9 year old son will be devasted, I worry about telling him. RIP Bella - you were a great friend.

[Joe A Jordan]

05:12 PM on 11/13/2011

There is a light that surrounds these two gentle creatures. Makes me glad there are good people that helped them as much as they were able to. Thanks

[LEE OVERSTREET]

04:55 PM on 11/13/2011

At the ripe old age of 58, I'm beginning to get the "hang" of death, I think.........LoL
When I saw this video - I did not want to cry.......rather I consciously Made myself soak in the Joy-the Beauty that Bella and Tara shared, like a little secret all their own.......and quie Something to behold -
We must remember a LIFE well-lived is one who has loved Much -
For you Two - it was Love in motion......
God Bless you Bella - and God Bless Tara too

[NewsMix]

05:24 AM on 11/15/2011

If I were a dog, I would love to have a best friend elephant. What a cool dog. Sad thing about the coyotes. Where was Tarra?

[Robin Mahaffey]

12:26 PM on 11/13/2011

How is Tarra now? Is she ok? I know mourning can easily kill them.

[thelastkindwords]

02:51 PM on 11/08/2011

Man, I can only hope to have a friend as good as Tarra.

[UserNameJane]

02:24 PM on 11/08/2011

I'll never forget the first time I saw this story, It almost bought tears to my eyes it was so sweet.. RIP Bella.

[sjaent2001]

03:09 AM on 11/08/2011

""""Bella The Dog Dies; Tarra The Elephant Mourns At Tennessee Sanctuary"""--- Tarra may have mistakenly stepped on his while he was sleeping ----- is there a lesson for us in this story --- beware of the elephant if he steps on the results are or could be disastrous and or deadly so God help us from the elephanters marathoning to the WH>

[entreMundo]

01:50 PM on 11/08/2011

The lesson is to learn how to read and not be an idiot.

[sjaent2001]

02:48 PM on 11/08/2011

Sorry you do not have any political sattire side.

[sjaent2001]

12:12 PM on 11/09/2011

But sometimes beside sentiments you have to see and read what others have to say too to be not to be an idiot
ssf118312:41 AM on 11/05/2011
hard to believe the elephant is the symbol of the republican party.
on 11/05/2011
Hard to believe you can read and write!
Favorite (2)Flag as Abusive
01:39 AM on 11/05/2011
there doesn't seem to be anything in common between the two, elephants and republican­s. for starters elephants have my respect.
Tulka2
01:33 AM on 11/05/2011
And unfair. So unfair. LOL But.... donkeys are really cool too, if you ever get lucky enough to know one. Mules are even better. Smarter than donkeys or horses...e­xcept for maybe Arabians, but i am generalizi­ng.
02:45 AM on 11/05/2011
Nah, Arabians are very smart. But think Elephants are smarter. mangohombre
We can't stop here... this is bat country! .
01:48 AM on 11/05/2011
Elephants like to eat Democrate brains. You know, peanuts.