Where do retired circus elephants go?

Retired circus elephants roam free at northeastern Florida refuge. The majestic giants will now get to call the 2,500-acre refuge in Yulee home. YULEE, Fla. — A moment more than three years in the making has finally come to fruition with a herd of Asian elephants settling into their new home at White Oak Conservation.



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Their options include zoos and private owners, but former circus animals often end up at the animal sanctuaries that dot the nation, which vary widely in quality. Those might not have much trouble taking in horses or kangaroos, but tigers, bears and other large carnivores are another matter.

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The two were moved to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn., along with Sukari in late 2015 as the Nashville zoo prepared to renovate their space, citing plans to grow the African elephant herd and bring in more African animals. The move was originally temporary.

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In April 2005 the Detroit Zoo moved elephants Winky and Wanda to the Performing Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) ARK 2000 Sanctuary in California.

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About the Decision. Why are you transferring Christie and Zuri? The decision to move African elephants Christie and Zuri to another accredited zoo is to give them the opportunity to join a larger herd and have offspring within their prime reproductive windows.

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