Oakland Zoo announced that they will relocate their African elephant Donna to an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. Donna’s lifelong companion Lisa passed away in March, and as female elephants are highly social, the zoo decided to move Donna to a place where she can bond with other compatible female elephants. As for the zoo’s other African elephant Osh, he will stay as the zoo continues to seek additional elephants to join him there.
Oakland Zoo’s elderly African elephant Lisa was euthanized at the end of March following several years of age-related degenerative health issues. Her death was deeply mourned by zookeepers and guests who had loved her since she arrived to Oakland Zoo in 1979.
Donna and Lisa were closely bonded at Oakland Zoo since the end of the 1980s and slept together every night. Knowing that Lisa was declining, the zoo conducted a year-long nationwide search for other compatible female elephants to join Donna in collaboration with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, but to no avail.
As a result, Oakland Zoo has decided to move Donna to The Elephant Sanctuary, a massive elephant refuge spanning over 3,000 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee. Donna will join a larger group of 3 female African elephants named Flora, Tange, and Sukari. Oakland Zoo emphasizes that the decision is in line with their “unwavering commitment to act in the best interest of our animals,” and Donna will make the move at the end of June.
The zoo’s male elephant Osh will remain in the 6.5-acre elephant enclosure with the goal of finding additional elephants to join him there. Oakland Zoo writes that male elephants don’t need the same amount of social stimulation as females do, so his need for companionship is not as pressing as Donna’s. This makes Osh one of the last remaining zoo elephants in the Bay Area given that SF Zoo closed their elephant enclosure in 2004, according to ABC7.
“We are happy to have found a permanent ideal situation for Donna, and her opportunity for new lifelong companions at a new home as dedicated to her well-being as we are, and with the capability to continue providing her the highest standard of care that she is accustomed to at Oakland Zoo,” wrote Oakland Zoo on Facebook.
You can follow Oakland Zoo on Facebook and Instagram for more updates about Donna and Osh.