Oakland Zoo Makes The Momentous Decision To Relocate “Osh” To The Elephant Sanctuary

Photo credit: Oakland Zoo Facebook

In a significant milestone for elephants, In Defense of Animals is celebrating the arrival of Osh, an African elephant, at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. This event marks a transformative moment not only for the Oakland Zoo but also for all zoos across the country that house elephants in captivity. By choosing to relocate Osh, the Oakland Zoo acknowledges that even its sizeable 6.5-acre enclosure falls short of meeting the spatial and social needs of elephants. This courageous decision has been applauded by In Defense of Animals, an organization known for its annual “10 Worst Zoos for Elephants” list. The move sets a new standard for animal welfare, urging other institutions, such as the Los Angeles Zoo, to reconsider their own elephant exhibits.

The Oakland Zoo explained, “We currently cannot provide the optimal care and space for multi-generational herds that would meet the welfare and social needs required for elephants.” A spokesperson elaborated to ABC 7 News, emphasizing, “this space is not enough for the elephants’ social complexity that we think is necessary.”

While it is clear that no zoo can entirely fulfill the needs of elephants, the Oakland Zoo’s statement is noteworthy. It becomes only the second U.S. zoo to admit that its comparatively massive 6.5-acre exhibit is inadequate for housing the world’s largest land mammals. The dire lack of space that was highlighted in the “10 Worst Zoos for Elephants” list, pointed out that even the most extensive zoo enclosures cover less than 1% of the elephants’ natural range. This concern aligns with research by Dr. Rob Atkinson and Dr. Keith Lindsay, whose study, “Expansive, diverse habitats are vital to the welfare of elephants in captivity,” underscores the inability of zoo environments to cater to the complex needs of elephants.

“Oakland Zoo stands out for its honesty and commitment to animal well-being,” said Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “Osh’s release to a sanctuary marks a watershed moment in the evolution of zoos, and a dawning of the next generation of more compassionate, elephant-free zoos that embrace modern scientific understanding, seek to engage rather than entertain, and prioritize animals over profit.”

The Detroit Zoo is the first and only zoo to date to admit it did not have adequate space for elephants. In 2004, this recognition led to the relocation of its two elephants, Winky and Wanda, to a sanctuary. Although the decision was initially met with a heavy penalty—the temporary loss of accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)—the zoo’s accreditation was later reinstated.

”We had been working for years constantly increasing the size of the elephants’ area,” said Ron L. Kagan, speaking at the time as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Detroit Zoo. “Every time we made those improvements that we thought were important, we then thought, from an elephant’s point of view, it was not.”

Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant for In Defense of Animals explained, “The vast majority of elephant enclosures are not even 1% of their smallest home range, which is 2,470 acres. Elephants need vast landscapes to roam, forage, explore new territory, and find places to retreat from conflicts or when they don’t want company. These activities are vital for their mental and physical health. Zoos fail elephants largely by lack of vast roaming spaces, making elephants age faster and die at half the age of their wild counterparts.”

Oakland Zoo has become the 41st zoo in the United States to shut down or commit to shutting down its elephant exhibit. This decision comes after persistent efforts by In Defense of Animals, which has long campaigned to highlight the plight of elephants in captivity. With this move, there is growing pressure on the Los Angeles Zoo to follow suit. Oakland Zoo joins five other significant California zoos—Sacramento Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, Monterey Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo—that have already stopped exhibiting elephants.

At the Los Angeles Zoo, elephants Billy and Tina continue to exhibit signs of zoochosis, each trapped in their own isolated, cramped enclosure, endlessly bobbing and swaying. Recently, Billy has been observed reaching through electrified wires in a desperate effort to access nearby plants, while Tina suffers from arthritis and joint pain due to hard surfaces and insufficient space. Although the zoo expanded its elephant exhibit to 6.2 acres in 2010, only 3.5 acres are allocated to the elephants, divided into smaller areas less than an acre each, where Tina and Billy live their separate, solitary lives. Billy has endured nearly four decades at the zoo, while Tina, who arrived in 2010, spent 30 years performing in a circus.

Tragically, their companions, Jewel and Shaunzi, succumbed to illnesses associated with captivity within a year of each other—Jewel passed away in January 2023, followed by Shaunzi in January 2024.

Billy and Tina deserve retirement in a sanctuary designed with their needs in mind: vast acres to roam, trees, grass, ponds, and hills in a quiet natural environment, far from the congested and noisy life in the Los Angeles Zoo.

Advocates are pressing the Los Angeles Zoo to recognize that its inadequately sized exhibit is not meeting the needs of Billy and Tina. They are urging the zoo to become the seventh in California to close its elephant exhibit and relocate the elephants to a more expansive and suitable sanctuary.