The Elephant Sanctuary | Osh's First Pumpkin

Thanks to our Middle Tennessee community and beyond, the elephant residents of The Sanctuary have been spending autumn snacking on seasonal treats, including the abundance of donated pumpkins we received this month. In a delightful moment captured by Care Staff as they greeted Osh at the fence line, our newest African elephant resident munched loudly on his first donated pumpkin at The Sanctuary, creating popping noises as he devoured it. Aside from eating lots of delicious pumpkins, Osh has been acclimating well, spending his time exploring his new home and pulling down trees to forage!

About The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee:
Located 85 miles southwest of Nashville in Hohenwald, Tenn., The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee provides elephants retired from performance and exhibition 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 also works to raise public awareness of the complex needs of elephants in captivity, and the crisis facing elephants in the wild. The Elephant Discovery Center, The Sanctuary’s educational center with exhibits focused on elephants’ role as a keystone species, is open to visitors in downtown Hohenwald. The elephants’ habitats are closed to the public.

Connect with The Elephant Sanctuary:

[LCoffman]

Giving Thanks to all staff at The Elephant Sanctuary!!!!

[KellyLanden-rw]

Happy Thanksgiving EST! Grateful for all the love and care you give to the elephants!

[ConservativeVeteran]

Looks like it's an Osh-approved snack! Enjoy, big boy!

[charlotteh]

What a happy thing for him, getting new things to eat in his huge new home. I love that he's going to be staying there for the ret of his life--a life that has taken a huge turn for the best!!!

[IsabelleChen-qn]

Happy Thanksgiving The Elephant Sanctuary!!!! Thank you ALL for this great year! ❤

[Candie-ubyv]

Oh Osh I’m so happy you’re doing well. Hope you have friends and great habitat.enjoy that fabulous snack!

[Marie-tsrp]

🌈Precious boy!! Cant wait... please get Mikki & Punch here soon!! Punch is really suffering & Mikki also.

[laurelgirard]

You can tell by how slowly he was chewing that Osh was savoring every morsel! Thank you for giving these beautiful creatures a safe, loving, appropriate retirement community!

[jeanrobert]

Yes 💯 Osh is Living a Happy Life now & is being well Cared for by the Sanctuary. I'm glad you guys are taken good Care of Osh, Our Planets Largest Land Animal🐘🩵🐘💙🐘🙌🐘😁🐘

[nickoletteroden]

He finally has a life of some freedom thank god.

[trevorgordier]

I always had respect for these giants and got even more so after my Daughter volunteered at an Elephant Rescue Sanctuary in Thailand … Awesome job saving these Giants !!!

[sharonj.]

Love the loud crunching. So glad the elephants get to enjoy pumpkin treats! 🎃🎃🎃

[lalousiane]

Happy Thanksgiving my precious paciderms 😘🥰😍❤😊👩‍🦳🙏🇺🇸

[kristenahubbard]

We miss Osh here in Oakland but know he is much better off now with ele friends. Thanks for taking such good care of him.😊

[StopWhining]

Imagine having a mouth big enough to accommodate an entire pumpkin!

[liliasgordon]

Enjoy your pumpkin Osh, the first of many and maybe next time you will squash it with your feet. Sometimes, even if the volume is low or non-existent I imagine that crunch as it breaks open. I just love ellies! 😍❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[andreawalker]

I think we can safely say Osh loves pumpkins 🎃😄