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Coming Soon: The Big Payback Fundraiser for Tamy’s Tomorrows

Tamy is the lone male elephant at Ecoparque Mendoza. For the past 20 years, he has shared a common wall with his daughter Guillermina and Guillermina’s mother, Pocha. Many of you have voiced concern over what happens to Tamy once the two ladies come to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. Our hope is that he, too, can call ESB home, but there is a lot that needs to be done to make that happen. The first step is to build a habitat for male Asian elephants.

One of our biggest fundraisers of the year, The Big Payback, is May 5-6th. It’s a 24-hour fundraiser filled with bonuses for participating nonprofits, and we will be dedicating the dollars raised toward Tamy’s habitat. For those who are not familiar with The Big Payback, last year we won over $10,000 in bonuses during this event, in addition to the donations received. Please mark your calendars and save the date. You can be part of providing Tamy with a life of sanctuary that male elephants rarely have the opportunity to experience.

For those who don’t know Tamy very well, he is approximately 50 years old and has been living in his below-ground enclosure at Mendoza for over 30 years. Prior to that, he grew up in the circus. You can learn more about his life here.

Tamy’s fundraiser is our most ambitious to date. The price of used steel has doubled in recent months and male enclosures need to be taller and stronger, but we have faith that together we can do what is needed. Our sanctuary family may be small, but you are mighty! And Tamy, with his small ears and somewhat withdrawn personality, deserves a chance at happiness and healing, no matter his gender.

Thanks to those in Brazil who have donated through the #VemTamy campaign, those in Argentina donating through the Idea.me fundraiser, and a few generous donors in the US, we have a good head start. We will share more details and updates before the big event, but wanted to make sure everyone knew Tamy is always in our thoughts. Now it’s time to come together to make his future at sanctuary a reality.

Please put May 5th on your calendar and join us in creating #TamysTomorrows.

Photo of Tamy playing with a branch that was cut for him.

Comments(29)

  1. REPLY
    Rachel says
    April 20, 2021 at 3:07 pm

    Thanks for the update. Heartwarming hope for Tamy for the rest of his life at the sanctuary. I’m traveling on May 5th but will place a reminder on my phone to donate either the 5th or 6th – I don’t want to miss this.

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 20, 2021 at 5:23 pm

      We appreciate you thinking of us and of Tamy.

  2. REPLY
    Kenneth Newman says
    April 20, 2021 at 3:20 pm

    Tamy needs some old vehicle tires, used railroad ties, large balls, soccer, basketballs, volleyballs, etc.. to give him some objects to play with……I do hope his barn, and 1st and 2nd outdoor living areas will be ready by August???? or at least Nov……

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 20, 2021 at 5:23 pm

      We don’t have a timeline. Money must be raised to complete his enclosure and we can’t predict when that would be. Tamy can’t have toys because he throws them out of his enclosure. But he will have trainers who will help stimulate him.

  3. REPLY
    Charlotte Hansen says
    April 20, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    Thank you for this hope for Tamy! 30 years! I don’t know how he keeps from losing his mind!

  4. REPLY
    Alana says
    April 20, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    May 5th, I marked my calendar & saving my $$ Oh Boy! He is a hansom guy.

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 20, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      Thank you.

  5. REPLY
    Debbie Sides says
    April 20, 2021 at 4:28 pm

    I donated a couple of days ago to Tamys Tomorrows but I will donate again on The Big Payback 🙂

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 20, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      Thank you so much!

  6. REPLY
    Carol says
    April 20, 2021 at 4:28 pm

    ????

  7. REPLY
    Susan says
    April 20, 2021 at 4:34 pm

    This guy needs to be with his family. Let’s do this!

  8. REPLY
    Jillyp says
    April 20, 2021 at 5:50 pm

    It’s in the diary for sure ♥️ and I’ll be donating for Tamy. Hopefully it won’t be too long til you can come home too Tamy ??♥️ Thanks GSE X

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 20, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      Thank you. This will bring us one step closer.

  9. REPLY
    Julie says
    April 20, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    I missed the earlier fundraisers, but I will mark my calendar for the Big PayBack. This is an exciting year for the sanctuary and elephant-loving community! Thank you ESB

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 20, 2021 at 7:12 pm

      Thank you! We are looking forward to May 5.

  10. REPLY
    Anella Stewart says
    April 20, 2021 at 6:55 pm

    Always look forward to your postings; they never fail to brighten my day. I just re-adopted our beautiful Rana and now look forward to 5 May to contribute and help get Tamy closer to his forever home at GSE. If ever I win any lotto, I know where a good portion of it would go. Deepest thanks for all your hard work & committment to these intelligent & majestic animals. Many blessings to all at GSE.

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 20, 2021 at 7:11 pm

      Thank you so much for your dedication to elephants and our sanctuary.

  11. REPLY
    SHEILA says
    April 21, 2021 at 12:25 am

    IM ?CONCERNED THAT ?TAMY WILL BECOME VERY UPSET AND DEPRESSED WHEN POCHA? AND GUILLERMINA? LEAVE THE ECQUO PARK! GUILLERMINA IS HIS DAUGHTER! IM SURE HE IS AWARE! AND POCHA! WHILE HE WILL NEVER BE HOUSED WITH THEM AGAIN, WHICH IS SAD THEY WILL STILL TALK TO EACH OTHER! YES TAMY IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE ADJUSTMENT WITH LADIES EXIT! I ?PRAY TAMY WILL NOT BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE? YES TAMY WILL NEED BIG INDISTUCTABLE TOYS! TIRES! POND! LOGS TO ROLL! BALL! I BELIEVE SCOTT AND CREW WILL MAKE A GREAT HOME FOR TAMY??

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 21, 2021 at 11:14 am

      Just remember that Tamy’s training can’t begin until he’s able to access Pocha and Guillermina’s current enclosure. Their leaving may seem sad, but it will be a positive step in his journey to sanctuary. And, no, Tamy cannot have toys. It is too dangerous because he is very strong and throws them out of his enclosure.

  12. REPLY
    Sallie says
    April 21, 2021 at 1:37 am

    Tamy must be with his family! He will be happily spoiled by all the Ladies and Keepers! You can count on me on May 5th! The thought of him alone is so disturbing. Let’s change this and bring him home!

  13. REPLY
    Carey says
    April 21, 2021 at 6:22 am

    Yes will def be donating, for Tamy’s male Asian enclosure. Trying to complete the fundraiser for Kaavan’s new area in Cambodia, and Tamy, 2 male Asian elephants!

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 21, 2021 at 11:15 am

      Thank you!

  14. REPLY
    Carol Anderson says
    April 21, 2021 at 10:09 am

    When you build an enclosure for Tamy, will it join at least one other enclosure that would join the one for Pocha and Guillermina. That would be nice since they have been together for so long.

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 21, 2021 at 11:08 am

      This is a good question and something we will be writing about more in depth soon. But, in a short answer, they will have the potential to see one another based on the enclosure design. There are lots of variables that come into play, so look for more information on that soon.

  15. REPLY
    Deanna Young says
    April 21, 2021 at 1:10 pm

    I have a fund raiser going on Facebook. It is all for Tamy ?❤️. I love GSE .My world revolves around it. Blessings to you . #OpentheCages?

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 21, 2021 at 1:14 pm

      That is very generous of you. Thank you and we hope you will spread the word about The Big Payback coming up. Our supporters keep us going!

  16. REPLY
    Katie Howard says
    April 22, 2021 at 12:10 pm

    On my calendar! ❤️?❤️

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 22, 2021 at 12:28 pm

      We are so grateful.

  17. REPLY
    Sandy says
    May 1, 2021 at 9:38 pm

    Wonder if Tamy will behave the same Re: toys in his enclosure in his new home? Everything will likely be different. #sanctuarysaves

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