Former circus elephants just arrived at a new sanctuary. They are swimming and grazing on fruit buffets. Cathy Free Former Ringling Bros. circus elephants began arriving at the White Oak Conservation center in April. (Stephanie Rutan/White Oak Conservation) For about two decades, elephants that performed with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus were sent to a reserve in central Florida when they became too old to balance on two legs and parade around arenas doing tricks and dancing for large crowds. Animal rights’ groups have long called the breeding farm and retirement refuge problematic. It is owned by the parent group of the now-closed circus, and there have been reports of elephants being chained in concrete enclosures and some having foot and leg problems.
UpdatedThu, May 6, 2021 at 6:04 pm ET
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Theo, a mixed-breed dog, went missing April 20 after a van taking him to his new adoptive family crashed on U.S. 27 between Miami and Belle Glade. He s pictured with his new owner, Ashley Tirado (front right) and the rescuers who helped find him. (Courtesy of mavrixphoto.com)
ACROSS AMERICA After nine days of wandering the swampy Florida Everglades, a newly adopted dog was found this week, which meant he could finally be united with the family he almost didn t get a chance to meet.
Theo, a brown-and-white mixed-breed dog, went missing after a transport van taking him to his new family in Alpha, New Jersey, crashed between Miami and Belle Glade.
'Karmic Payback' For Retired Circus Elephants Loving Florida Life - Jacksonville, FL - Forced to entertain us in circuses, these sentient creatures discover at an expansive Florida sanctuary what it's like to be an elephant.
The majestic giants will now get to call the 2,500-acre refuge in Yulee home.
Credit: Stephanie Rutan/ White Oak Conservation Author: 10 Tampa Bay Updated: 7:01 PM EDT May 3, 2021
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.
They re the first of 30 elephants who previously traveled across the U.S. with Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circuses until they retired in 2016.
Now, after being held in a previous facility in Polk County, the majestic giants will get to roam the 2,500-acre refuge in Yulee.
Ex-circus elephants get new life at Florida facility - South Florida Sun-Sentinel sun-sentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sun-sentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.