Former Oakland Zoo elephant, Osh, completes 46-hour journey to new home in Tennessee

Osh, the beloved elephant who departed the Oakland Zoo last week, made it safely to his new home at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and has been adapting well, zoo officials say.

“After only a few days at The Sanctuary, he continues to be a rambunctious and resilient being, joyfully exploring his new habitat,” said zoo manager Gina Kinzley. “My heart is so full seeing Osh at his new forever home.”

Osh, 30, was the last remaining elephant at the Oakland Zoo, which is now closing its 35-year-old elephant exhibit to allow the elephants to live a more robust life at the sprawling, 3,000-acre location in Tennessee. The zoo’s penultimate elephant, Donna, 44, made her trek from the Oakland Zoo to the sanctuary last year.

“I applaud Oakland Zoo for the seriousness with which they’ve dealt with the situation with Osh and their other elephants,” Association of Zoos and Aquariums president Dan Ashe said in August. “They’ve put a lot of thought into it.”

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Osh had been trained for months to voluntarily get into a custom, air-conditioned trailer that transported him on a 46-hour road trip alongside two zoo care team members, stopping every three hours to check on him.

Zoo officials said his trip was smooth, and Osh remained calm throughout, eating several watermelons along the way.

Osh interacting with new companion, Artie, at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (photo courtesy of the Oakland Zoo).

Osh exploring his new habitat at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (photo courtesy of the Oakland Zoo).

Osh, a 30-year old African elephant, eats a pumpkin while surrounded by signs wishing him well as he attends his farewell party at the Oakland Zoo in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Osh is being relocated to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee later this month after living at the Oakland Zoo for the past 20 years. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Animal care staff post a large banner for Osh, a 30-year old African elephant, for his farewell party at the Oakland Zoo in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Osh is being relocated to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee later this month after living at the Oakland Zoo for the past 20 years. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Zoo visitors watch as Osh, a 30-year old African elephant, eats a pumpkin during his farewell party at the Oakland Zoo in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Osh is being relocated to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee later this month after living at the Oakland Zoo for the past 20 years. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Osh, a 30-year old African elephant, eats a pumpkin as he attends his farewell party at the Oakland Zoo in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Osh is being relocated to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee later this month after living at the Oakland Zoo for the past 20 years. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Zoo visitors watch as Osh, a 30-year old African elephant, attends his farewell party at the Oakland Zoo in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Osh is being relocated to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee later this month after living at the Oakland Zoo for the past 20 years. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

A box holding a pumpkin awaits Osh, a 30-year old African elephant, during his farewell party at the Oakland Zoo in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Osh is being relocated to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee later this month after living at the Oakland Zoo for the past 20 years. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

The Elephant Sanctuary near Hohenwald, Tenn. Osh, the lone elephant remaining from a once thriving group of four at the Oakland Zoo, will head for Tennessee to the nation’s largest elephant sanctuary this fall. (Michael Tercha /Chicago Tribune)

An elephant named Osh at the Oakland Zoo on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. Osh, the lone elephant remaining from a once thriving group of four at the Oakland Zoo, will head for Tennessee to the nation’s largest elephant sanctuary this fall. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Visitors watch Osh the elephant at the Oakland Zoo on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. Osh, the lone elephant remaining from a once thriving group of four at the Oakland Zoo, will head for Tennessee to the nation’s largest elephant sanctuary this fall. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

The Oakland Zoo

Elephants Osh (left) and Donna (right) interact through a fence line at the Oakland Zoo (Courtesy of the Oakland Zoo).

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Osh interacting with new companion, Artie, at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (photo courtesy of the Oakland Zoo).

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When he arrived at his new home, he began exploring the terrain and has already been introduced (through a fence) to Artie, a 41-year-old male African elephant who will share a 3,000-square-foot barn with his new companion.

For those who want to follow along, the sanctuary has live footage of the elephants live on the “Elecams.”

The Oakland Zoo has not yet announced what will become of the elephant habitat, but hopes to renovate the area before adding new animals. It’s the first time in 75 years the zoo has not housed any elephants.

“It is undeniable that Osh and the other African elephants who have lived at the Zoo have made a deep impact in Oakland,” said Nik Dehejia, CEO of the Oakland Zoo. “They have left a mark on our staff and zoo community, who love them. We know this is the right decision for Osh, and we are celebrating his future, his ability to be with other elephants, and the next chapter of his life.”