With the shock and sadness of Tamy’s sudden passing still fresh, we take a closer look at the mechanisms behind elephant rescues and the broader challenges GSE faces. Transparency has always been a core value at GSE, and this extends to Tamy’s relocation story.

Kat and Scott share their thoughts on how elephants in captivity—particularly in zoos unequipped to meet their complex needs—have often been neglected for decades. While that neglect is quietly accepted by many, efforts to offer these elephants a better life are sometimes met with resistance and public outcry. External pressures, internal politics, complacency, and a reluctance to support meaningful change can ultimately rob elephants of the chance to live with dignity and autonomy—leaving them stuck in inappropriate environments or, as in Tamy’s case, passing away before rescue becomes reality.

Though we end the podcast in tears, Scott expresses a firm commitment to continue fighting for these elephants, despite this heartbreaking setback.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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 where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

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, X, & 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 this week’s podcast, we shine a light on the humans behind the sanctuary—especially co-founders Kat and Scott—to find out what they actually do all day. You might be surprised to learn that direct elephant care isn’t the main part of their daily routine. A large portion of their work involves managing staff in both Brazil and the U.S., juggling logistics, and overseeing projects across multiple time zones.

Kat and Scott also talk about their current projects and how their decades of expertise in captive elephant husbandry have made them sought-after consultants. Despite the heavy workload and immense responsibility of running a sanctuary, neither would have it any other way.

And soon, the winner (and guest) of our virtual auction sweepstakes will get the chance to see it all firsthand during their upcoming visit to the sanctuary.

Please note that this podcast was recorded before Tamy’s passing.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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 where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

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, X, & 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.

Our virtual online auction, Trunks & Treasures, is back! Starting on June 13 and running for 10 days, all proceeds will go toward the costs of relocating Kenya and Tamy—the last two elephants at the Mendoza Ecoparque in Argentina. Join us here: www.globalelephants.org/trunksandtreasures and bid on charming elephant items, purchase gifts for the Girls, and—if you’re a U.S. resident—buy one or more entries for a chance to win the prize of a lifetime: a 3-day trip with one guest to the sanctuary!

We also delve deeper into Pupy's journey of self-discovery and how she is healing both physically and emotionally from decades of unnatural captivity. The abundance and vastness of the sanctuary grounds are unveiling Pupy's true spirit, which she continues to discover each day.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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 where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

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, X, & 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 this episode, Scott shares how the decision to initiate Pupy's relocation came together swiftly, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the entire team. Despite thorough preparation, the final moments—closing the crate door and Pupy's brief reaction—remained a poignant challenge.

Pupy adapted remarkably well, and the impressive convoy, comprising 26 team members, embarked on the journey. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, the world watched as Pupy, taking her time, stepped out of the crate to begin her new life.

Her departure from the ecoparque marked the end of 120 years of elephant captivity in Buenos Aires—a truly momentous occasion.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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 where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

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, X, & 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.

Transparency in our work can be both a blessing and a challenge. This week, we catch up with Kat in Brazil and Scott in Argentina, where he is assisting both Kenya’s (Mendoza) and Pupy’s (Buenos Aires) caregiver teams with relocation training. Kat and Scott share how the introduction of a chain in Pupy’s crate training has raised concerns among even long-time supporters. We also discuss why sedating an elephant during transport is not an option for GSE.​

The challenges of Tamy’s situation are discussed in more detail. His enclosure is too small to accommodate both the crate and the necessary space for training. This limitation poses significant hurdles, as he is in a pit surrounded by high and thick concrete walls. The urgency of his situation is understood by all involved at the eco-park.​

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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 where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

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, X, & 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 this week’s episode, we catch up on events at Ecoparque Mendoza in Argentina, where female African elephant Kenya has received a significant new item: her transport crate! Marcos, one of GSE’s caregivers, is on-site, preparing and training Kenya for her upcoming journey to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.

Kat also declares her love for Tamy, the male Asian elephant destined for his forever home at the sanctuary. However, his training presents several challenges, including determining a suitable training location within the zoo, as his current habitat is inadequate. More importantly, GSE needs to find a caregiver committed to spending three months in Argentina to build trust with Tamy.

Kat and Scott have said it time and time again—and Scott’s recent return from Argentina without Pupy, the female African elephant at the Buenos Aires eco-parque, proves it: everything works on elephant time.

We discuss how amazing Pupy is (of course), how she has developed since the death of her companion, Kuky, and how her insecurities about having the back gate of her transport crate closed made  rescheduling her relocation necessary. Scott shares insights into her training, explains how her care team will incorporate his suggestions, and emphasises that, despite this small setback, everyone remains fully committed to Pupy’s relocation.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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 five 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, X, & 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 this week's podcast, we catch up on life at the sanctuary and talk about Rana, Mara, Bambi, Maia, and Guille. How are the herd dynamics evolving? How are the elephants embracing the rainy season? Kat and Scott share insights into the elephant’s daily routines and how they typically spend their days.

If you love hearing about the elephants at the sanctuary, consider becoming an EleGuardian by adopting your favorite elephant(s). Find out more and get your digital adoption package straight into your inbox today: https://globalelephants.org/adopt-an-elephant/

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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 ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, & YouTube

In today’s podcast, we say goodbye to Pocha, who had only a short time at the sanctuary. Her death, though sudden, was not entirely surprising, as there had been signs for a long time that something wasn’t quite right. Kat and Scott take us back to October 2022 to share Pocha’s final days and her passing.

We also discuss how Guillermina and the other elephants reacted to her death, as well as the broader topic of elephants’ capacity to mourn. Despite the sadness, there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude among Scott, Kat, and the entire team at ESB that Pocha lived long enough to witness her daughter discovering her birthright of freedom, forming new friendships, and becoming part of a herd. Pocha left this world in peace, knowing Guillermina was in the best care possible.

Visit Pocha’s memorial page.

Valentine’s Day fundraiser over on Friends of GSE (Facebook)

Watch our “Vision for Sanctuary”

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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, X, & 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.

Happy New Year, everyone! The sanctuary is buzzing with activity as preparations continue to welcome its first African elephants. The crates have arrived in Argentina—but why and how do you draw blood from an elephant? What’s a trunk wash? How are Kenya and Pupy being trained and prepared for their journey to Brazil?

In this episode, Kat and Scott answer these questions and share behind-the-scenes stories of the logistics involved. We also catch up on the sanctuary’s wildlife rehab program, including updates on Junior and his mom—both giant anteaters—and Pushy the tapir, a former rehab resident now thriving in the wild, who has taken a special interest in a young male, one of the newer arrivals to the rehab program.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you [email protected]

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, X, & 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.