Today marks the one year anniversary of Donna’s arrival at The Sanctuary!
Volunteers from our most recent Volunteer Day helped Care Staff decorate and prepare enrichment for her, including bamboo, banana leaves, melons, and braided firehose, which Donna always shows a preference for. Stacked tires filled with hay made it a true “reTIREment” party! She devoured her vegan birthday cake made from oranges, bran, and pumpkin, went for the banana leaves next, and then finished by rolling the hay balls out of the way to munch on the bamboo. Flora later came by to clean up the left over browse and remnants of hay.
Since Donna's arrival, she has made great strides in exploration, exhibiting natural behaviors, engagement with enrichment, and training progress. “We are very proud of the way she continues to try new things, even if it takes time and a little extra encouragement,” says Madeline M., Lead Caregiver at Africa Barn and Habitat. Staff's favorite things about her include her preference for pumpkin as a snack, perfect for the upcoming fall season, and that she is always muddy! Since Donna's arrival, she has
excelled at digging wallows and mudding — two natural behaviors crucial to mental and physical health. “She makes an adorable raspberry noise that is more similar to a purr,” says Madeline. “It's very quiet at times, but it happens when she's eating, drinking, or interacting with Caregivers.” The Sanctuary is honored to have cared for Donna this past year, and we look forward to the years ahead.
Help us celebrate Donna by sharing a few of your favorite things about her in the comments below! You can also contribute to Donna's care through our Adopt an Elephant program. By Adopting Donna, you become a partner in The Sanctuary's efforts to provide the gift of home, herd, rest, refuge, and individualized care for life. Learn more and Adopt Donna here!
About Donna:
Donna was born in the wilds of Zimbabwe in 1980. At the age of two, she was captured and brought to the United States, where she was sold to the Audubon Zoo in 1982, where she lived for eight years. Donna arrived at the Oakland Zoo in California on April 24, 1990, and resided with African male elephant Osh and African females M'Dunda and Lisa.
After the loss of Donna’s companions, M’Dunda in 2019 and Lisa in 2023, the Oakland Zoo explored all opportunities for Donna. Understanding that elephants’ social lives are critical to their well-being, the zoo chose to have Donna spend her remaining years at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, where other female African elephants of similar age could provide companionship. Donna arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary on September 13, 2023, becoming the 32nd elephant resident. In 2024, the Oakland Zoo announced that they will also be transferring their last remaining elephant, Osh, to The Sanctuary, where he will join Donna later this year.