Osh, the beloved elephant who departed the Oakland Zoo last week, made it safely to his new home at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and has been adapting well, zoo officials say.
“After only a few days at The Sanctuary, he continues to be a rambunctious and resilient being, joyfully exploring his new habitat,” said zoo manager Gina Kinzley. “My heart is so full seeing Osh at his new forever home.”
Osh, 30, was the last remaining elephant at the Oakland Zoo, which is now closing its 35-year-old elephant exhibit to allow the elephants to live a more robust life at the sprawling, 3,000-acre location in Tennessee. The zoo’s penultimate elephant, Donna, 44, made her trek from the Oakland Zoo to the sanctuary last year.
“I applaud Oakland Zoo for the seriousness with which they’ve dealt with the situation with Osh and their other elephants,” Association of Zoos and Aquariums president Dan Ashe said in August. “They’ve put a lot of thought into it.”
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Osh had been trained for months to voluntarily get into a custom, air-conditioned trailer that transported him on a 46-hour road trip alongside two zoo care team members, stopping every three hours to check on him.
Zoo officials said his trip was smooth, and Osh remained calm throughout, eating several watermelons along the way.
When he arrived at his new home, he began exploring the terrain and has already been introduced (through a fence) to Artie, a 41-year-old male African elephant who will share a 3,000-square-foot barn with his new companion.
Osh interacting with new companion, Artie, at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (photo courtesy of the Oakland Zoo).
For those who want to follow along, the sanctuary has live footage of the elephants live on the “Elecams.”
The Oakland Zoo has not yet announced what will become of the elephant habitat, but hopes to renovate the area before adding new animals. It’s the first time in 75 years the zoo has not housed any elephants.
“It is undeniable that Osh and the other African elephants who have lived at the Zoo have made a deep impact in Oakland,” said Nik Dehejia, CEO of the Oakland Zoo. “They have left a mark on our staff and zoo community, who love them. We know this is the right decision for Osh, and we are celebrating his future, his ability to be with other elephants, and the next chapter of his life.”