35 Circus Elephants Arrive In Incredible Florida Sanctuary To Retire Among Forest, Grassland And 11 Watering Holes

May 20, 2021

The White Oak Conservation Center in northeastern Florida welcomed a dozen Asian elephants that used to belong to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's Circus until they were retired in 2016. The conservation center is in the process of completing its 2,500-acre space, and more elephants will be added once more areas of the project are completed in due time. The sanctuary announced that they have purchased 35 elephants total to live on the premises.

The elephants that arrived in early May 2021 were traveling from the Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk County, Florida. They arrived safely and have been adjusting well to their new lives at the White Oak Conservation Center, which is located in Yulee, a city north of Jacksonville. 

Eventually, all of the elephants will have access to nine connecting areas that will include a variety of habitats and vegetation, such as woods, wetlands and meadows. The center is also in the process of building new barns and 11 watering holes for the elephants, which are big enough for them to swim in. The variety of their new environment will be very different from the life they previously experienced in the circus.

Philanthropists Mark and Kimbra Walter own White Oak Conservation Center. The sanctuary covers around 17,000 acres total and is home to other endangered and threatened species. The center partners with wildlife and federal agencies to collaborate on species recovery. Asian elephants are endangered in the wild with fewer than 50,000 remaining in less than 15% of their known historic range. 

Nick Newby, who leads a team of elephant caretakers at the center, was moved by the scene of the elephants exploring their new home. “Watching the elephants go out into the habitat was an incredible moment. I was so happy to see them come out together and reassure and comfort each other, just like wild elephants do, and then head out to explore their new environment. Seeing the elephants swim for the first time was amazing,” Newby said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

In footage provided by the White Oak Conservation Center, one of the elephant caretakers can be seen taking in the moment the elephants first experienced the newly built habitat. “I’m just taking it all in and seeing how they are sorting themselves out. What they are exploring and how they are interacting with one another. Also what they are choosing to do,” she said in the video below.  

It is fascinating to see what the elephants were drawn to in those first moments. Another one of the caretakers said this: “To see them out this morning past the pond was kind of surprising because normally they kinda stay close, at least for the first few days.”

That same caretaker continued talking about the project as a whole and what the day the elephants arrived meant to him.

“This has been years of hard work that we put into this, so to see it come to fruition today has been pretty cool. Man, is it rewarding for these elephants to change their lives and have them out on these big pastures."

White Oak Conservation Center is home to more than just elephants. They also care for rhinoceros, okapi, bongos, zebras, condors, dama gazelles and cheetahs –– which are all endangered or threatened species. They also partner with the local government to facilitate the release of Florida panthers, Florida grasshopper sparrows, Mississippi sandhill cranes and whooping cranes. 

On Sept. 23, 2020, the center released a statement announcing their purchase of the largest Asian elephant herd in the western hemisphere. Kimbra said, “Elephants are majestic and intelligent animals, and they are in dire need. For too long, humans have decimated the native habitats, poached, and removed these animals from their natural home.” Mark, her husband, added, “Our family is committed to improving the lives of individual elephants and ensuring the survival of elephants in the wild.”

The new spacious habitat gives the elephants plenty of room to exercise, wander and forage like they would in a wild habitat. It also operates in alignment with the center’s dedication to sustainability and environmentalism. The conservation center is also dedicated to bringing elephant education and awareness to the public. In 2019, more than 1,600 students participated in their education programs.

According to the same statement, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums spoke out in support of the sanctuary. “AZA strongly supports White Oak Conservation’s efforts on behalf of elephants. By providing these elephants the space to explore, to interact with one another, and to engage in natural behaviors, they are being given a key element in animal welfare and wellness — choice."

Did you enjoy the video of the elephants exploring their new habitat? What did you think of these circus elephants finding a second chance at life? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to send this on to your loved ones.