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Kenya’s Having Breathing Issues Today

December 13, 2025

Profile of female African elephant Kenya as she looks right. She is standing in a patch of dirt and a small mud wallow is positioned on the right

A couple of mornings ago we noticed that Kenya’s breathing seemed like it was a little off. Because elephants often mask illnesses, we started her on antibiotic injections right away. Yesterday it seemed like things were on the upswing: her energy was better, her breathing had improved, she ate really well, and everyone’s anxiety level dropped a little. But, this morning when we went to the African habitat, she seemed a little worse. She is a little needier and emotionally more sensitive than usual. She is eating all of her produce, but is being a little picky with grain. Her caregivers are spending time loving on her whenever she seems to want the extra attention.  

We had planned to share information on Monday, about a joint issue that just showed up earlier this week. Kenya started having some creaking in her front right leg, and that progressed to a loud pop. This is something that has been seen in captive African elephants before and is really difficult to manage. Unfortunately, decades of standing on compact surfaces caused not only foot issues (which we have always known she has) but also significant joint issues and osteoarthritis, which are still a leading cause of death in captive elephants. We were already discussing with our vet group and other specialists adjustments that we could make to her existing treatment regimen when we noticed the shift in her breathing. The possibility of this development being related to pain was also part of that discussion, but we began treating her for a possible respiratory issue to be safe. 

For the past few days, Kenya has been on the previously mentioned antibiotics and some other respiratory medications. She is being great about allowing her caregivers to do what is needed for her. Bloodwork from a couple of weeks ago on her looked good–actually, really good for her age–but what we see through general bloodwork is very limited. Before any of this happened this week, Kenya was already on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and pain meds, but laser treatment has been added to her care regimen, and she is scheduled for acupuncture on Wednesday with Dr Luciana. We will continue with her treatments and discussions to see what can be adjusted to possibly help things improve, and will repeat bloodwork to see if there have been any significant changes. We will try to keep you updated on how she is doing, but keep her in your thoughts and send some healing, love, or whatever speaks to you, her way.

Photo of Kenya standing to the side of the mud wallow

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Comments(30)

  1. REPLY
    Wim says
    December 13, 2025 at 12:07 pm

    Dear Kenya, this sounds really worrying. Sincerely hope you can find the strength to win your battles. Sending you love and healing. We can’t say goodbye, so very soon. 🙏🐘🫶

  2. REPLY
    Zoi says
    December 13, 2025 at 12:08 pm

    My adorable Kenya, I’m sending positive thoughts and tons of love for a quick and easy recovery! You’ve got this! 💚🐘

  3. REPLY
    Zoi Flores says
    December 13, 2025 at 12:09 pm

    My adorable Kenya, I’m sending positive thoughts and tons of love for a quick and easy recovery! You’ve got this! 💚🐘

  4. REPLY
    Barbara L Smith says
    December 13, 2025 at 12:33 pm

    Dear Kenya, I send my prayers and love to you. I pray your pain is eased, your health improves. God Bless you all caring for Kenya.🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️

  5. REPLY
    Ada says
    December 13, 2025 at 12:42 pm

    Sending this baby girl well wishes and praying she gets better soon. Love you sweet Kenya😘You are in perfect hands. No one else can take better care for her than GSE and thank God she’s under your care. Good thoughts and healing your way Kenya🥰

  6. REPLY
    Bev says
    December 13, 2025 at 12:45 pm

    Please God don’t let us lose her. I still miss Pupy.

  7. REPLY
    Eileen L. says
    December 13, 2025 at 1:02 pm

    All good wishes being sent to dear Kenya, and hopes for good treatment that will allow her many good years yet in sanctuary.

  8. REPLY
    Tracy H says
    December 13, 2025 at 1:12 pm

    Sending lots of love and prayers for speedy recovery to feeling your best Kenya. 😘🐘🐘🐘

  9. REPLY
    Maureen says
    December 13, 2025 at 1:46 pm

    Sending good vibes for healing and comfort for our sweet Kenya!

  10. REPLY
    Lori Hoover says
    December 13, 2025 at 1:58 pm

    I cannot put into words the feelings running through me as I started and continued to read your post. I have adored Kenya since the first moment I saw her live, on video years ago, with one of your caretakers (sorry, cannot remember name right now, it was a female that adored her, though) visiting her at Mendoza Zoo while work was being started on training Pocha and Guille. Seeing her pure joy at some loving attention and later, a pile of dirt, moved me and made me fall in love with her beyond belief.

    I am encouraged that Kenya is allowing and cooperating with the things everyone there needs to do to try and assess and help her. I am glad and worried and happy and worried and worried, get it, I’m worried, at knowing she is asking for extra love and attention at times, although it’s a bit scary. I just love that girl, I can’t explain the extra umph I’ve always felt for her. I guess I’m going to hope a, whatever is going on with her breathing it can be alleviated quickly, be it a response to pain or some type of infection you can get a handle on quick. The leg, bone, osteo info is what truly, truly worries me, the stage of it, and I’m hoping the breathing thing isn’t another giant threat to her.

    I am, though, encouraged at the information breakdown you have given, lining up the steps to take, and that helps. All we can do is make a plan and hope that following the path and options down it can bring Kenya to an encouraging place. I will be sending her lots of loving vibes, and she will be in my thoughts as I hope and wish and want the best for her. She is loved. She is appreciated, as are all of you taking care of her.

  11. REPLY
    Carmen says
    December 13, 2025 at 1:59 pm

    I will be devastated if we lose Kenya too.

  12. REPLY
    Tammy says
    December 13, 2025 at 2:09 pm

    Sending get well wishes to Kenya she’s had a rough time with things lately but I do know she’s at the best place possible with the best care anywhere not to mention all the love and kindness from her sisters and everyone at the Sanctuary. Thank you all shes in good hands! God bless 🙏🕊💞

  13. REPLY
    Juan says
    December 13, 2025 at 2:13 pm

    Sending her the best energy

  14. REPLY
    Sue says
    December 13, 2025 at 2:25 pm

    Sending love and prayers to all of you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thank you for taking such good care of her and helping her as best you can. Love you Kenya!! ❤️🐘❤️

  15. REPLY
    Jeanine Sahulka says
    December 13, 2025 at 2:37 pm

    I send Kenya my prayers.❤️🙏

  16. REPLY
    Barb Campbell says
    December 13, 2025 at 2:39 pm

    Healing prayers for sweet Kenya 🐘🙏🐘🙏💞💞

  17. REPLY
    Beci says
    December 13, 2025 at 2:41 pm

    Could any newer meds or something new she found be causing an allergic response to make her breathing off? I only ask because the issue just happened with my cat and it was something in a diffuser that is supposed to help calm them. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to mention. In my prayers

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says
      December 13, 2025 at 3:45 pm

      There was only one remotely new medication that she started taking before her breathing changed, and she is not taking it right now. So symptoms should have subsided if that was the case. But thank you for your suggestion.

  18. REPLY
    Suzanne Eaton says
    December 13, 2025 at 3:21 pm

    Oh, NO! Sending positive healing thoughts for beautiful Kenya. This is very disturbing news. I know you are doing all you can for her. ❤️🐘

  19. REPLY
    Sharon Klesse says
    December 13, 2025 at 4:50 pm

    Prayers and lots of love for Kenya. 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️

  20. REPLY
    Sherry Panick says
    December 13, 2025 at 5:50 pm

    Oh, Dear Kenya and to your family of keepers – sending your warm hugs and lots of good energy to your entire body. It’s so difficult to outrun years of abuse and your lovely new family if doing their very best to help you. Lots of love and light being sent through the universe my sweet girl. From your California auntie. Much love.

  21. REPLY
    Melissa says
    December 13, 2025 at 6:17 pm

    Kenya, ich denke fest an dich und wünsche dir alles Gute, damit du bald keine Schmerzen mehr hast und du wieder kerngesund bist. Ich denke fest an dich 🐘🥰🍀🍀🫶💪

  22. REPLY
    Karen says
    December 13, 2025 at 8:15 pm

    Kenya, sweet girl please don’t leave your people there. They’ll miss you and so will all of us. PLEASE GET WELL SOON sweet love.

  23. REPLY
    Kitty says
    December 13, 2025 at 8:39 pm

    This is a very sad deveopment.

  24. REPLY
    Kitty says
    December 13, 2025 at 8:40 pm

    Referring to my earlier comment, Kitty can’t spell.

  25. REPLY
    Gayle Janzen says
    December 13, 2025 at 9:34 pm

    Sending loads of love and healing vibes to you, sweet Kenya. Your many fans from all over the world love you so much. I’m glad you’re a good girl and are allowing your human friends to administer their healing treatments to you. Hoping to hear good news soon! ❤️

    • REPLY
      Bonnie says
      December 14, 2025 at 1:15 am

      I’m really sad to hear about Kenya i hope she gets better poor baby and you all at Sanctuary take care to

  26. REPLY
    Pauline Forbes says
    December 13, 2025 at 10:39 pm

    Oh, poor soul! Please get better soon, precious Kenya!

  27. REPLY
    Vicki says
    December 14, 2025 at 1:05 am

    Sending prayers & trying not to cry – Thank you for caring for her so much. She and all the ele ladies are so precious

  28. REPLY
    Richard Chiger says
    December 14, 2025 at 3:37 pm

    Today’s awareness toward all things “elephant” is a wonderful thing. I have adored elephants all my life and during the time I was growing up I was called “crazy Richard who loved elephants” by my family. Today there seems to be so many other people who love elephants and who are aware of the fact that they are the greatest life form on earth. It is nice to know. Maybe this awareness will bring results to stop the torturing of elephants in Asia and the murdering of elephants in Africa. Maybe. May Kenya, my adopted elephant, be well and come to deal with radiant health. Elephants are the best, the absolute best.

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