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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, and Myrtle  was ready to mosey into the forest nearby to forage for a morning snack or indulge in an ...

White Oak, which is a part of Walter Conservation, is a one-of-a-kind center for conservation. With 17,000 acres in northeastern Florida, it has long been dedicated to the conservation and care of endangered and threatened species, including rhinoceros, okapi, bongos, zebras, condors, dama gazelles, and cheetahs.

As feisty as his name implies, a critically endangered Black rhino calf is thriving after being born at White Oak Conservation — the internationally respected wildlife refuge north of Jacksonville. Rocky weighed in at 70 pounds when born in August at the nonprofit refuge for rare species owned by philanthropists Kimbra and Mark Walter. Now four months old, Rocky tips the scales at 250 pounds.  “Mom has been great and protective, keeping him very close,” said Brandon Speeg, director of conservation at White Oak. “That’s why in the wild, rhino calves are not a real easy target f...