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.

This GivingTuesday, we shared the exciting news that the importation permits for female African elephants Kenya and Pupy are finally in our hands, and we are taking the necessary steps for their relocation from Argentina to Brazil. To celebrate, we’ve paused our timeline on Pocha and Guillermina to introduce you to the first African elephants we will welcome to sanctuary.

Kat and Scott discuss what they know—and what’s still unknown—about Kenya and Pupy, as well as how African elephants differ significantly in character from Asian elephants. This often leads to their behavior being misinterpreted as aggressive by zookeepers when they are simply more high-strung than their Asian counterparts.

Exciting times lie ahead as everything is set in motion to bring these majestic ladies to their new home in Brazil!

Thank you for being part of our herd this year. Wishing you a wonderful New Year’s Eve—whether you fall asleep before midnight like Scott or burn the midnight oil like Kat. We can’t wait to connect again in 2025!

Buy our 2025 wall calendar (Shipping Europe, South America, Oceania)

Buy our 2025 wall calendar (Shipping to US & Canada)

Episode transcripts 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.

We have to know their normal (Pocha & Guille Part 6)

This week’s podcast dives deeper into Pocha and Guille’s dysfunctional relationship. Drawing on decades of experience, Kat and Scott discuss how the two elephants’ bond was shaped by an unnatural life lacking the mental and physical stimulation essential for elephants.

We also explore Pocha’s health and how she presented herself to the team after arriving at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (ESB). Scott and Kat highlight the importance of daily observation at the sanctuary to understand each elephant’s baseline behavior, allowing subtle changes that signal physical or mental discomfort to be detected early.

—

Shop for the holiday season at our online shop & support our work.

Buy our 2025 wall calendar (Shipping Europe, South America, Oceania)

Buy our 2025 wall calendar (Shipping to US & Canada)

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.

In today’s podcast, we explore Pocha and Guillermina’s first days and weeks at the sanctuary. Scott recalls how the barn became their safe haven—a home base they returned to whenever the outside world became overwhelming.

We discuss their introductions to the other elephants and how Guillermina’s dominance and aggression toward Pocha, shaped by their 23 years in an unnatural concrete pit, contrasted sharply with natural elephant dynamics. This double rescue was unique, not just because it involved a mother and daughter but also due to the restrictive, man-made environment they endured.

Scott and Kat share touching stories about how, with the space and autonomy of sanctuary, both elephants began rediscovering what it truly means to be an elephant.

—

Shop for the holiday season at our online shop & support our work.

Buy our 2025 wall calendar (Shipping Europe, South America, Oceania)

Buy our 2025 wall calendar (Shipping to US & Canada)

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.

We start off this week's episode with the recent news of Kuky, the female African elephant at the Buenos Aires EcoPark, who passed away suddenly. Scott shares more details about how long the permit process has taken for the three female African elephants waiting to come to the sanctuary.

Then we go back to May 2022, when Pocha and Guille arrived at the sanctuary but weren’t quite ready to leave their transport crates. After decades in a sterile, subterranean exhibit, the sights, sounds, and smells that mother and daughter experienced during those first hours at sanctuary must have been overwhelming.

Please note: This episode was recorded prior to the events at the Aalborg Zoo, Denmark and originally scheduled for release on 5. Nov.

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Watch all videos of Pocha and Guillermina’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 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.

On October 29, 2024, Aalborg Zoo in Denmark announced that they had euthanized their two female African elephants, Tanja and Mai. Tanja was ill and unresponsive to treatment, but Mai, apart from an arthritic ankle, was otherwise healthy. Yet, the zoo decided to euthanize her as well. In this episode, we discuss the zoo’s justification for this decision and explore the arguments they put forward. This emotional topic weighs heavily on all of us advocating for sanctuary and better lives for captive elephants.

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, 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.