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.
Top photo: Osh exploring habitat for the first time while Artie observes