Bambi: A Before and After

As most of you know, elephants arrive at sanctuary with numerous physical and emotional compromises. Their beauty and miraculous healing sometimes makes people forget the trauma experienced in captivity.

Bambi is now our puppy-like girl, but she had a fear of other elephants before she arrived. Now she has two wonderful friends, but getting there wasn’t a smooth journey for her. When we first met her years ago, before she moved to her most recent zoo, she was plump. On arrival at sanctuary years later, she was underweight and had lost muscle mass; she’d also become blind in one eye.

Since her arrival, Bambi has put on several hundred pounds and is in a much healthier place. One of the most obvious problems Bambi had been coping with was the condition of her skin. She had years of built up dead skin. At sanctuary, she learned that trees could help scratch her itches and bring her skin back to a healthier and more natural condition. Once Bambi learned to trust us, she allowed us to hose her off, which removed more of those layers of skin until she looked much more like the girl we first met. Today, Bambi has only one dime-sized spot of crusty skin on her forehead. As you can see in these pictures, sanctuary has allowed her to become a healthier individual who continues to learn more each day.

Comments(23)

Audrey says
April 10, 2021 at 3:38 pm
The improvement in her overall healthy is astronomical. It’s like a totally different elephant. Kudos to all your hard work in getting her to trust you all & finally feel safe enough to be there.
❤️
Carol says
April 10, 2021 at 3:45 pm
Wow!!! What a transformation! She’s so beautiful and we are so happy for her. God Bless her!???????
Patricia Aguilar says
April 10, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Her inner beauty is now gone all the way through to the outside.
Tammy Nelson says
April 10, 2021 at 4:08 pm
It’s amazing to see the remarkable changes that take place when these gentle giants get a second chance at life in a loving caring safe environment of heaven on earth Global Sanctuary for Elephants! Thank you one and all you are amazing!
Cintia Abney says
April 10, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Bambina mia!! Te voglio benne!!
So beautiful, so darling, you look amazing! ????❤️
Sherry says
April 10, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Thank you, sanctuary, for your care and love for the elephants. I love you all too!!!❤️
Debbie Sides says
April 10, 2021 at 5:00 pm
Her transformation is nothing less than amazing. Sanctuary heals.
Wim says
April 10, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Looking more Beautiful by the day. Traveling back to nature a must for all captive elephants. Hopefully the scars on her soul are healing with the same speed. ??
Suzanne Eaton says
April 10, 2021 at 5:10 pm
It never ceases to amaze me what sanctuary can do for these abused sentient beings. Another heartwarming story of recovery by loving hearts and hands. Thank you for all you do at GSE.❤️??
Beji says
April 10, 2021 at 5:12 pm
She is a beauty. Inside and out. Just perfect.
Nishant Bhajaria says
April 10, 2021 at 5:31 pm
She is so beautiful. Thank you for helping her.
Julie says
April 10, 2021 at 6:26 pm
It is normally Bambi’s bouncing/bounding personality her name first calls to mind but thank you for the reminder that she has also become a member of sanctuary’s beauty squad!
SHEILA says
April 10, 2021 at 6:41 pm
OH SWEET BIG ❤️?PUPPY BAMBI! SHE CAME TO SANCTUARY VERY SLIM AND CRUSTY HEAD OF OLD SKIN! WOW DOES SHE EVER LOOK YOUNGER AND HEALTHIER? INDEED HAS REALLY SCRATCHED OFF ALL THAT DEBRI LUMPS AND DEAD SKIN! ONE MORE LUMPY TO GO BIG BAMBI!! U LOOK LIKE A YOUNG GIRL NOW SWEET LOVING PLAYFUL BAMBI! YES MADISON AT THE ZOO WAS CRUEL TO BAMBI WHO ONLY WANTED A CLOSE LOVING FRIEND! SHE HAD TO LEARN SHE NEEDED TO NOT BE TOO FORWARD WITH MARA! MAIA! RANA! AND SHES TONED DOWN HER HAPPY EXTRAVERTISM ABIT! RANA AND MARA. REALLY LOVE BAMBI NOW WITH HER NEW MANNERS! SHES SHOWN ALOT OF CARING TO MARA IN HER ILLNESS! BAMBIS CARING NATURE IS AWESOME! AND SHES SILLY AT TIMES ENTERTAIN8NG RANA AND MARA??
Nancy Shaw says
April 10, 2021 at 7:46 pm
WHAT AN ANGEL !!
Carey says
April 10, 2021 at 10:01 pm
Wonderful transformation in her skin , her weight and I’m sure in her mind. Great to see
Sallie says
April 11, 2021 at 12:12 am
BAMBI, YOU ARE SO VERY SPECIAL! YOU HEAL YOURSELF AND YOUR PERSONALITY AND SENSE OF COMPASSION, HEALS OTHERS . . . YOU COMPLETE THE TRIBE WITH CHARM!
Katie Howard says
April 11, 2021 at 12:17 am
❤️
Gayle says
April 11, 2021 at 1:01 am
She looks amazing – like night and day! I’m so happy she has been able to live her best life with new friends, and loving human caretakers. Reading stories about how far the girls have come, always makes my day and lifts my spirits. Love to all at GSE!!
John says
April 11, 2021 at 7:03 am
My first exposure to GSE was Bambi at the zoo being prepared for her transport. I’m beyond amazed at what’s happened in these months since. You all are amazing!
Carmen Dalziel says
April 11, 2021 at 8:20 am
THANK THANK THANK YOU! I had asked about another head comparison on my darlin Bambi. So happy to see such clear smooth skin. My Mama always said she didnt pick favourites but I never believed that hahaha – cant help but have a special love for this sweetie.
Elaine Kay Decker says
April 11, 2021 at 8:29 am
No matter how many elephants you save, Bambi will always be my favorite! ?
Rachel says
April 11, 2021 at 2:39 pm
My spirit is dancing. The elephant sanctuary has become my spiritual sanctuary of sorts – the love, compassion, and care these elephants receive at sanctuary is no doubt the catalyst for these incredible transformations that deeply moves me. There are a lot of good, decent human beings out there working diligently to care for others – whether human or creatures at the receiving end – and all of the work being done is to be celebrated. Gentle, loving strokes to Bambi and hugs to all of you.
Sunny says
April 13, 2021 at 12:07 am
?

How To Help

Adopt an Elephant

Donate Today

GSE Merchandise

Elephant Wishlists

Blog