Franklin the steer is moving on to greener pastures.

The Facebook famous, 1,700-pound 8-year-old is now being cared for at the SquirrelWood Equine Sanctuary in Montgomery. 

“We are happy he’s here,” said sanctuary executive director Beth Hyman. 

Franklin used to live at the Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston since he was a calf, until concerns last week went viral on social media about his care, living arrangements and health. 

“What we heard was, he had become cast in his stall and his enclosure up there. That’s when they lay down too close to a wall and they can’t get up," said Hyman.

Hyman says their veterinarian cared for Franklin at the city-funded petting zoo in Ulster County and asked them if they could take the steer after public outcry and demands the city relocate him.

Hyman says while Franklin was well-cared for, there were concerns about the size of his enclosure and that he was living alone without other cows. 

She says Franklin also has leg problems from when he was a calf that contributed to a recent fall and several injuries to the animal's face and body. 

“He had a ton of attention. People loved him. He educated so many kids, but he just needs some more room to roam, and he’ll get that here," said Hyman.

Franklin is in quarantine and under veterinary care but will eventually have 15 acres to graze at his new home. 

“We are so grateful that Franklin is somewhere he will have space, soft pasture, and the company of other cows for the first time since he was a calf. We are relieved that the Forsyth Nature Center realized that their space was not a suitable home for a cow," said Rachel McCrystal, executive director at Woodstock Sanctuary.

Rescuers hope that once he's healed and ready, he’ll also make some new four-legged friends. 

“He’ll get introduced to other bovines, hopefully, if he accepts that," said Hyman. "He has not been around them since he was young, so we need to go slow.” 

His new caretakers say Franklin's "fans" can still see him at his new home once his quarantine is over in a few weeks.

For more information on how to visit Franklin or donate to his care visit www.squirrelwood.org.