Just hours after arriving, Osh ventured into his habitat (specifically designed for African male elephants), sampling the vegetation Tennessee has to offer and began pushing against trees. Artie even made an appearance, watching with apparent curiosity from across the transition yard as Osh explored his new environment.
Osh exploring habitat for the first time while Artie observes.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is excited to announce the safe arrival
of African male elephant Osh on October 18.
Osh made the journey from Oakland, California, to Hohenwald, Tennessee,
accompanied by dedicated zoo staff and a veterinarian. His arrival went
smoothly, and he quickly settled into his new barn, exploring his
surroundings. He munched on large pumpkins, banana leaves, and plenty of
local browse while drinking lots of fresh water. He also seemed to prefer
blueberry bagels and coconut water! Just hours after arriving, Osh ventured
into his habitat, sampling the vegetation Tennessee has to offer and began
pushing against trees. Artie even made an appearance, watching with apparent
curiosity from across the transition yard as Osh explored his new
environment. Artie, a 41-year-old African male, and Osh, a 30-year-old
African male, will continue to have visual, auditory, and olfactory
communication through protected fencing until Osh has had time to acclimate.
Osh's care team from Oakland Zoo will be collaborating with The Sanctuary
on-site to ensure a comfortable transition over the next several days.
Recognizing that elephants' social lives play a critical role in supporting
their behavioral health, the decision to relocate Osh was made after careful
consultation with the AZA's African Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). To
ensure his long-term care and companionship, Oakland Zoo decided to move Osh
to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, where he would have the opportunity
to socialize with other elephants, including his former herd mate Donna, who
relocated from Oakland to The Sanctuary in 2023.
In preparation for Osh's big trip, Oakland Zoo’s care team worked with Osh
through voluntary training to help him acclimate to his custom
air-conditioned trailer, designed to accommodate his 15,000-pound weight and
11'2" height. The Zoo's Veterinary Hospital staff conducted foot and tusk
radiographs, along with physical and visual exams and blood tests, to assess
his overall health and well-being, ensuring he was fully prepared and
healthy for his move to Tennessee.
Osh was born in captivity at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Littlebourne,
England, in 1994. He spent his first nine years there before being
transferred to Oakland Zoo in California in 2004. At Oakland, he lived with
African females Donna, M'Dunda, and Lisa. Donna, age 44, was transferred to
The Sanctuary in 2023 after M'Dunda passed away in 2019 at age 50, followed
by Lisa, age 46, in 2023.
Osh arrived safely in the afternoon of October 18, 2024, becoming the 34th
resident and The Sanctuary’s second permanent African male elephant. Osh has
joined Artie at The Sanctuary’s new Bull Barns and Habitat, built
specifically for male elephants. The two new 3,000 square foot barns are
each equipped with two stalls: one rubber floor and one sand stall, a large,
shared open-air covered space with fencing for health care and training,
adjacent fenced habitat(s) for each elephant and 200 acres designated for
future growth and to provide social opportunities with other elephants in
residence.
“We are excited to welcome Osh to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. It
was a long 43-hour journey across the country, but there were many smiles
from both The Sanctuary Staff and Osh’s Oakland team as he explored the new
barn,” says Janice Zeitlin, CEO of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. “His
arrival marks a significant moment for us as our second African male
elephant. We are grateful for the ongoing collaboration with Oakland Zoo and
for his safe travels.”
We look forward to keeping our supporters updated over the next several
weeks as Osh settles in. We encourage you to watch Osh on our
live-streaming EleCams, which offers views of Osh and the other
elephants in their habitats at The Sanctuary.
Posted on All-Creatures.org: October 24, 2024
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