Announcement from The National Elephant Center
Two African elephants—“Thandi” and “Tsavo”—cared for at The National Elephant Center (TNEC) have been relocated to larger herds at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The new facilities will ensure these elephants have the active social environment they need to continue to thrive.
TNEC provides interim care for elephants while state-of-the-art habitats are expanded, renovated, and constructed at zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and as the dynamics of elephant herds there change.
Thandi, the female African elephant, joined a bull and a cow at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, and Tsavo, the young male African elephant, is now coming of age and joined a mature bull at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
As a result of the moves, TNEC daily operations will go on hiatus as the volunteer Board of Directors works to potentially use the facility to care for other animals while awaiting elephants in need of care.
TNEC was created in 2008 to play a vital role in addressing the critical need for elephant population management and is an international resource in elephant conservation. The 225-acre facility in Fellsmere, Fla., exists because of a strong public-private partnership between the City of Fellsmere and private supporters, including corporations, individuals and zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).