Roger Williams Park Zoo Announces Future Home for Elephant Herd

PROVIDENCE, RI (June 30,2026) For more than 35 years, Alice, Ginny and Kate have been cherished members of the Roger Williams Park Zoo family and beloved by generations of Rhode Islanders. Today the Zoo is announcing the next chapter in its lifelong commitment to their care. Roger Williams Park Zoo has selected The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee as the future home for its African elephants, Alice, Ginny and Kate. Following an extensive evaluation process, the Zoo plans to relocate the trio in late 2027.

Last year, the Zoo announced its decision to begin planning for the elephants’ future as they enter their senior years. Alice, Ginny and Kate have called Roger Williams Park Zoo home for the past 35 years. “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. We are making this decision now while all three elephants are healthy and together” said Stacey Johnson, executive director of Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Elephants are highly social animals and AZA-accredited zoos strive to care for elephants in groups of no fewer than three. As Alice, Ginny and Kate age, Zoo leadership determined it was important to plan and avoid a situation where one elephant could eventually be left without companionship. Recognizing that need, Zoo leadership believes one of its greatest responsibilities is making sure they continue to enjoy the companionship of other elephants throughout their lives.

The Elephant Sanctuary was selected after careful review of many factors, including animal care, veterinary services, habitat, social opportunities and long-term planning.

Throughout the process, the Zoo remained focused on one guiding principle: identifying the environment best suited to meet Alice, Ginny and Kate’s needs as they age. Located in Tennessee, the Sanctuary provides care and management of aging elephants.

Focused on Alice, Ginny and Kate’s long-term well-being, Zoo management and animal care staff conducted a comprehensive evaluation. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) African Elephant Species Survival Plan® (SSP) was asked to recommend accredited facilities that could meet the following minimum criteria:

· Commitment to keeping Alice, Ginny and Kate together, at an AZA-accredited facility, for life (recognizing that the elephants may choose other companions)

· Guarantee that our elephants will always remain in a herd situation

· Ability to be outdoors at least as many days each year as they are in Providence (based on AZA weather-related guidelines)

“Our responsibility has always been to do what is in the best interests of Alice, Ginny and Kate, in a setting where they can remain together while having opportunities to engage with other elephants,” said Amy Roberts, chief zoological officer at Roger Williams Park Zoo. “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.”

The move will allow Alice, Ginny and Kate to remain together while also living among a larger population of elephants. The Sanctuary’s large natural habitats and experienced elephant care team have a specialized approach which emphasizes elephant choice, social interaction and will provide lifelong care.

“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,” said Steve Shurter, CEO of The Elephant Sanctuary.

“One of our top priorities has always been keeping Alice, Ginny and Kate together,” Johnson said. ” The Elephant Sanctuary offers an environment designed specifically for elephants and provides opportunities for them to live alongside other elephants while receiving expert care as they grow older. Our commitment to Alice, Ginny and Kate doesn’t end when they leave Roger Williams Park Zoo.”

The elephants are expected to remain at Roger Williams Park Zoo through 2027. Throughout the transition, Alice, Ginny and Kate will continue receiving the exceptional care they have always known at Roger Williams Park Zoo as staff work closely with The Elephant Sanctuary to prepare them for their next chapter.

Roger Williams Park Zoo is Rhode Island’s number one outdoor family and tourist attraction, and a leader in conservation efforts undertaken by a zoo of its size. As leaders in conservation and animal care – we create engaging experiences that empower guests to join us in conserving wildlife and wild places. The Rhode Island Zoological Society operates and funds Roger Williams Park Zoo as a partner of the City of Providence, which provides ongoing support. The Zoo is one of many features in historic Roger Williams Park.

Located on 3,060 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for Asian and African elephants. Founded in 1995, The Sanctuary has provided 36 elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being. The Sanctuary is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and has been dually recognized through certification by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and accreditation by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. The Elephant Sanctuary is currently home to 12 elephant residents.

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