January marked an important arrival anniversary for Artie, who came to The Elephant Sanctuary on January 31, 2023—becoming the first permanent African bull elephant and 29th resident of The Sanctuary.
Born in Zimbabwe in 1983, Artie was orphaned before his first birthday during government-sponsored culling. He was later brought to the United States with other orphaned calves, where plans for a protected herd never materialized. Instead, Artie spent more than two decades performing in circuses before eventually being transferred to the North Carolina Zoo. His arrival at The Sanctuary represented a planned transition into a life defined by choice, space, lifelong care, and companionship.
Over the last few months, Care Staff have been thoughtfully supporting Artie’s gradual social introduction with fellow bull, Osh. Recently, Caregivers observed an encouraging interaction between the two during a shared-space session. Osh calmly approached Artie and remained nearby for several minutes. The bulls exchanged rumbles, and Osh gently reached out to make brief, calm contact before both chose to move off independently. These moments, while subtle, are important indicators of trust and comfort.
As the first African bulls to live at The Sanctuary, Artie and Osh are continuing to learn about one another, with Care Staff supporting their relationship progress as it unfolds naturally.
