海角大神

Hiking, swimming, fruit buffets. It鈥檚 the latest in retirement living for former Ringling Bros. circus elephants at , in Yulee, Florida, where a dozen Asian elephants recently arrived.

The 17,000-acre sanctuary, owned by Mark and Kimbra Walter, is 鈥渄edicated to the conservation and care of endangered and threatened species,鈥� including rhinoceros, okapi, zebras, condors, and cheetahs, its website explains.聽

Through their Walter Conservation philanthropy, the Walters primarily work to protect animals in their native habitats, 鈥渂ut for these elephants that can鈥檛 be released, we are pleased to give them a place where they can live comfortably for the rest of their lives,鈥� the couple said in a .听听

Ringling Bros. retired its elephants in 2016, about a year and a half before it ended circus operations entirely. The animals landed in a reserve in Polk City, Florida, owned and run by Feld Entertainment, Ringling鈥檚 parent company, until Walter Conservation took over the facility last year. A few elephants not able to make the move will remain there, but most will eventually enjoy water holes, grasslands, forests, and wetlands on the 2,500 acres set aside for them at White Oak.

Meanwhile, the first 12 elephants to arrive appear to be very much at home, enjoying dust baths and naps in the sun.

鈥淚t鈥檚 magnificent for these animals to get to experience a large and complex place like this in their lives,鈥� Nick Newby, head of White Oak's elephant caretaker team, told聽.

After years of performing, these pachyderms have earned some time in a Sun Belt paradise.