Arriving at the zoo in Ribeirao Preto Scott recalls how much Bambi had changed not only physically but also mentally since he and Kat met her in 2013. She was curious but was spooked by the slightest noise and returned to the darkness of her barn.

Scott and Dr. Trish let things flow at Bambi’s pace, letting her know that everyone is listening to her, seeing her insecurities, and respecting her need to take things slower. Eventually in the crate, the team set off on the short 1-2 day trip to the sanctuary. Kat recalls Bambi stepping off the crate very quickly and like all arrivals taking a dust bath embracing the sounds and smells of her new home. We also talk a little bit more about Maison, the zoo’s second elephant, who is still there.

Check out our blog posts & videos on Bambi’s rescue.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Bambi is the seventh elephant to call Elephant Sanctuary Brazil her home. Confiscated from the circus, she was first sent to the Leme Botanical Gardens and later on to a zoo in Ribierão Preto; both cities are located in São Paulo state, Brazil.

Scott recalls how they first heard about Bambi during their exploratory trip to Brazil in 2013, and how the Leme Botanical Gardens asked them to take Bambi right then. But at the time, the soon-to-emerge non-profit GSE didn’t have a property. Bambi and GSE’s paths cross again several years later, when a judge rules that Bambi is to be sent to sanctuary. With an increase in the tension between Bambi and the zoo’s other elephant, Maison, Bambi needed a more permanent solution.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In the first of our “Brazilian edition” episodes - our host Nadia is currently in Brazil at the sanctuary - we pick up from last time and continue to talk about Mara’s health. While her GI issues seemed to be getting better and her poop improving in quantity, size & consistency, she started to go off her food. After weeks of limited food intake, Mara laid down, making a large round shape in her abdomen visible.

With both Bambi and Rana at her side, Mara recovers and is able to stand again. Today, she is doing well but, as Kat explains, she is one of the elephants they monitor the closest. Nadia also offers listeners an insight into her daily work at the sanctuary, giving you all a look behind the scenes.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Decades of unnatural captivity have left their mark on Mara, and in this week’s episode we talk in detail about elephant poop! From the differences in consistency of African and Asian elephant poop, to size and smell, all topics are on the table.

Kat and Scott explain how Mara’s stool was not normal for an Asian elephant, showing that she had GI (gastrointestinal) issues going on. Scott recalls the amazement of Mara’s zoo care team when noticing a change in her digestion just a few days after arriving at the sanctuary.

Not only did Mara’s physical health begin to improve, but her mental health did as well. Her stereotypic swaying stopped almost immediately. With her new friend, Rana, at her side, Kat and Scott recollect Mara’s first days and months of discovery in her new home, Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.

Videos mentioned in this episode:

Mara & the Ani: https://globalelephants.org/mara-and-the-ani/

Mara peels & trades a banana: https://globalelephants.org/mara-peels-and-trades-a-banana/

Rana expresses her joy: https://globalelephants.org/rana-expresses-her-joy-to-mara/

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

A few days after Mara’s transport crate arrives at the Buenos Aires Zoo, Argentina and Brazil close their borders due to pandemic regulations. Now, the GSE and zoo teams face the daunting task of transporting Mara to the sanctuary amidst uncertainty. While Mara's care team at the zoo works to acclimate her to the crate under remote guidance from Scott and Kat, all involved also must consider the well-being of the human teams.

With a journey spanning 1,710 miles (approx. 2,600 km), the logistics of stops and provisions for both elephants and humans require careful planning. Despite the challenges, the caravan embarks on its journey to Brazil, eventually arriving exhausted but elated at the sanctuary. There, a weary yet joyful Mara eagerly emerges from her crate and indulges in a long-awaited dust bath.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Mara’s story is typical of many captive elephants. Taken from the wild, most likely India, she was sold to the circus industry where she was forced to perform in several different circuses. After decades, she was confiscated under the new progressive legislation in South America.

Every elephant adapts differently to this unnatural life of captivity, and Scott describes how Mara vented her frustration in aggressive behaviors which continued in the zoo. The Buenos Aires Zoo, Argentina was not suited to care for her properly, which included Maia being kept together with two female African elephants, Kuky and Pupy. We talk about the differences in these two elephant species, and how they communicate both physically and auditorily very differently. In their transformation to an eco park, the zoo and the team of GSE start working towards her transfer to sanctuary - yet the pandemic in 2020 creates unforeseen obstacles.

Read more about Mara’s story on our website.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

We start off this week’s episode by catching up on the various wildlife rehab animals under the care of the GSE team, including Stan, the burrowing owl, and his partner—perhaps even boyfriend?

Scott and Kat share anecdotes of Lady and her cautious, yet hesitant interactions with the other sanctuary elephants, which, however, has never involved any physical contact. We delve further into Lady’s ongoing health concerns and discuss why foot-related issues used to be the primary cause of death among zoo elephants in the U.S. Despite captivity having taken a cruel toll on Lady, Kat and Scott speak in admiration of her resilience and zest for life, as she ventures into the farthest corners of the sanctuary.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

After a peaceful first night at the sanctuary, the gates of the barn are opened the next day for Lady to explore her new home. Scott and Kat continue to explain Lady’s way of communicating and how, still today, she expects their full presence and attention when being with her. Listening and paying attention to the most subtle forms of communication is the foundation of sanctuary and trust building. We fast forward to the present day, talking about Lady’s recent health issues and dive into the topic of osteomyelitis, a degenerative bone disease from which Lady is suffering.

Learn more about osteomyelitis on this EleFact Friday post.

Video: Lady’s first steps into the habitat.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, currently home to six female Asian elephants.

Website: https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can support our work with a general donation, purchasing items from our wishlist, or adopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also donate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Additional Trumpet sound by Pixabay.