LONG-TIME ELEPHANT RESIDENTS OF ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO ALICE, GINNY AND KATE TO MOVE TO NEW HOME IN 2027

Relocating to Accredited Facility that Provides Care and More Companions for the Aging Elephants

 
Roger Williams Park Zoo’s African elephants Alice, Ginny and Kate – who have been together their entire lives and came to the Zoo 34 years ago – turn 40 this year. To ensure the elephants remain together, receive the care they will need and always have elephant companionship as they age, they will move to a new home in late 2027.
 
 "Alice, Ginny and Kate are healthy, and they’ve lived together for nearly 40 years.  As they reach advanced ages, we want them to continue to live well. That’s why we are now making plans to move them together to a new home where they will have the company of fellow elephants and the care they will need to live out their days comfortably,” said Stacey Johnson, executive director of Roger Williams Park Zoo.  “Elephants are very social animals and thrive in groups, which is why AZA-accredited zoos like ours aim to care for elephants in groups of no fewer than three.  As Alice, Ginny and Kate advance in years, we want to avoid one of them being left alone. We are taking proactive steps while they are in good health to transition them into a supportive group setting that provides care for aging elephants and offers them opportunities to socialize with a larger group of elephants.” 

A Strategic Decision for Our Elephants’ Care

Caring for every animal at Roger Williams Park Zoo requires a thoughtful, lifelong plan that supports them from birth through their final days. Social interaction is vital for elephants, and the Zoo recognizes the need to provide for the long-term companionship of other elephants. Because it is not feasible to bring other elephants to the Zoo, Alice, Ginny and Kate will join another herd and have companionship for the rest of their lives.  
 
Roger Williams Park Zoo is working with AZA elephant plan coordinators to find the best home for the three elephants to remain together. The Zoo routinely collaborates with other AZA-accredited zoos, aquariums, related facilities and sustainability partners to care for animals. AZA’s Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Program helps guide animal care decisions about many animal species, including elephants.
 
Because moving elephants requires extensive planning and preparation, Alice, Ginny and Kate won’t move to a new home until late 2027.  Zoo’s elephant care professionals, who have extensive experience and expertise, will play an important role by working closely with each elephant to prepare them for the move and ensure their successful transition. Coordinating with other national experts will make sure the complex process goes smoothly. 
 
“Making this decision was difficult, but our responsibility for the elephants’ well-being guided us. It is our duty to make sure Alice, Ginny and Kate have the long-term companionship they deserve. Although our staff feels the emotional weight of this decision, we are confident it is the right one,” said Amy Roberts, the Zoo’s chief zoological officer. “The long lead time is a bonus because it gives our animal care team and guests who love our elephants plenty of time to spend with them over the next 2 ½ years. There will be 40th birthdays to recognize this summer and we will invite the community to join in all celebrations of these amazing individuals."

About Alice, Ginny, Kate and Roger Williams Park Zoo’s Elephant Program

The first elephant at Roger Williams Park Zoo, named Roger, joined the Menagerie (with tigers, leopards and lions) in 1893. The second elephant, named Alice, moved to a new barn at the Zoo in 1930.  Other elephants, including the current Alice, have been named in her honor since then.



Alice, Ginny and Kate came to the Zoo in 1990. While all three are intelligent, social, curious and excellent problem solvers, each is distinctive.  

• Alice, the smallest, is smart, sassy and motivated by fun more than by treats. She’s very flexible and stretches frequently. She enjoys swimming and mud baths. Despite her size, she is no pushover. She stands her ground when one of the others (typically Ginny) tries to steal a snack or take her toy. 

• Ginny is as smart as she is beautiful. She thrives as much on positive praise as on treats. She is patient while working with her caretakers and frequently checks and rechecks all the enrichment devices and feeders in the environment for snacks. She often joins Alice in the mud and likes to nap in the sun. A prankster, she’s been known to soak guests with the water cannons. 

• Kate is the leader. She maintains order and the social stability of the herd. She’s curious, clever and likes to tinker. She’s motivated by trust and her relationships with the Zoo’s elephant care team. She has a positive relationship with all of them. She’s good at solving puzzles, favoring the most complex food puzzles in the habitat. And she’s not above wallowing in the mud with Alice and Ginny, which reflects the herd’s well-being.   

“We celebrate all of our animals and are grateful for the decades of public support for animal care at the Zoo and our many conservation and education programs,” said Johnson. “Over the next two summers, we plan to offer programming and events featuring Alice, Ginny and Kate’s story as well as global elephant conservation efforts. These programs will also provide opportunities for the community to say goodbye and celebrate their legacy.”
 

 
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.  Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is owned by the City of Providence. Roger Williams Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). 
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