Oak Conservation News Today

Two panther cubs taken into care now thrive thanks to local animal rehab organizations.

After years of intense public pushback, the now-shuttered Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus finally announced the retirement of their Asian elephant performers in 2016. While the decision was a resounding victory for animal lovers and activists, it raised a new issue. The mighty pachyderms were raised in captivity and lacked the skills to survive in the wild.  Now, thanks to Florida-based White Oak Conservation, the animals have a new home — one where they can roam f...

First Published: 10:03 AM PDT, May 7, 2021 The elephants were previously owned by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, but the company retired all of their animals in 2016. A group of circus elephants are getting settled in their new homes at a wildlife refuge in Florida, and the 12 animals aren’t having much trouble adjusting.The female Asian elephants, that range in age from 8 to 38 years old, arrived at a refuge near Jacksonville, and are now living in a habitat with pine trees, ponds, wet...

From ring to refuge: Asian elephants arrive in Northeast Florida The first wave of elephants arrived safely at White Oak Conservation Published:  Updated:  Tags:  (Photo credit: Stephanie Rutan/White Oak Conservation. Video credit: White Oak Conservation.) YULEE, Fla. – The first herd of 12 Asian elephants arrived safely in their new forest habitat at White Oak Conservation, a refuge for rare species funded by philanthropists Mark and Kimbra Walter, according to a news release. They will ...

The herd will be the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Most of the elephants previously traveled nationwide with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus until they were retired in 2016 White Oak Conservation is building a 2,500-acre habitat including grasslands, forests and wetlands for the elephants. YULEE — A luxurious dust bath along with a satisfying butt scratch against a stone barn wall, and Myrtle  was ready to mosey into the forest nearby to forage for a morning snack or indulge i...

First group of retired circus elephants settle in at White Oak Conservation near Jacksonville The first phase of the elaborate habitat is finished — clearing the way for the recent arrival of the first group of elephants. Author: Teresa Stepzinski Florida Times-Union Published: 10:15 AM EDT May 3, 2021 Updated: 10:15 AM EDT May 3, 2021 JACKSONVILLE, Fla — A luxurious dust bath along with a satisfying butt scratch against a stone barn wall, an...