RINGLINGS’ #ELEPHANTS TO GET A NEW LIFE. White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida has purchased 35 #Asianelephants from Feld Entertainment, parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, which closed after 146 years in 2017.

The #elephants have remained at the Feld/Ringling facility but most will move to White Oak next year. Construction has begun on what should be a dramatic improvement for these #animals who endured so much for many years.

White Oak Conservation say the home for the #elephants will cover 2,500 acres divided into nine interlinked sections of wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, with 11 watering holes - each wide & deep enough for the elephants to splash & frolic in.

They note: “Family groups will be together, with calves and their mothers and siblings in the same areas as grandmothers wherever possible.” 2 #elephants will stay at CEC due to old age/blindness, but will be in White Oak's care, another elephant is on loan to a zoo in Fort Worth

These #elephants cannot go into the #wild & there are very limited, suitable options available for them – especially as there are so many of them. The description of the facilities & space for the elephants, indicate something any #sanctuary would be proud of.

Of concern is news that the facility plans to breed with the #elephants & their offspring are expected to go to zoos - seems at odds with the stated commitment to keep families together. Nevertheless, it looks like the elephants are going to finally get their happy ending.

For clarification - #ADI was not involved in any way in the decision to move these #elephants to White Oak Conservation - that was a transaction between those two bodies.