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Alice, Ginny, and Kate will receive care at The Elephant Sanctuary as they enter their senior years, the Rhode Island Zoo said.
Three senior elephants at the Roger Williams Park Zoo will be relocated to a Tennessee sanctuary by next year after spending 35 years in the Rhode Island facility.
The trio of elephants — Alice, Ginny, and Kate — will move in late 2027 to The Elephant Sanctuary, the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge created for African and Asian elephants, the zoo said in an announcement.
“As they reach advanced ages, we want to make sure they continue to receive the care they will need and always have the companionship of other elephants,” Stacey Johnson, executive director of Roger Williams Park Zoo, said. “We are making this decision now while all three elephants are healthy and together.”
Johnson said maintaining the trio’s bond is a top priority for the zoo, given how essential social companionship is to the species.
The zoo said it chose The Elephant Sanctuary following a review of the facility’s animal care, veterinary services, natural habitat, social opportunities, and long-term planning — especially its expertise in managing aging elephants.
The zoo also noted the sanctuary holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and its “specialized approach” prioritizes “elephant choice, social interaction, and will provide lifelong care.”
“After our team visited the Elephant Sanctuary and saw its approach firsthand, we are confident it offers the environment and care that best meets their needs as they age,” Amy Roberts, chief zoological officer at Roger Williams Park Zoo, said.
The move will allow Alice, Ginny, and Kate to stay together within a larger population of elephants, according to the zoo.
“We are honored to be selected as the future home for Alice, Ginny, and Kate and look forward to welcoming them to The Sanctuary, where they will have opportunities to make choices, build companionship, explore expansive natural habitat, and receive lifelong care in the years ahead,” Steve Shurter, CEO of The Elephant Sanctuary, said.
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