Future Residents: Kuky and Pupy!!

We are very excited to announce that the City of Buenos Aires has signed an official decree declaring that Kuky and Pupy will be future residents of Elephant Sanctuary Brazil!!!

Once we complete the first phase of development of the African Elephant Habitat, Kuky and Pupy will join Kenya in their forever home.

Kuky and Pupy, both female African elephants, arrived at the park together in 1993, and now they will be moving to sanctuary together. We are thrilled to be working with the Buenos Aires team once again and look forward to moving forward with bringing these two lovely ladies home.

This move will not be happening immediately. We still need to complete the initial fencing for the female African habitat. Additionally, we plan to transport Kenya from the Mendoza Ecoparque first. And by now, most of you know the drill…permits have to be applied for and issued by various authorities, quarantine needs to happen, etc. Kuky’s and Pupy’s arrival is at least six months away.

We are overjoyed about what this decision will mean for Kuky and Pupy. It is also exciting news for Kenya, who will now have two other elephants joining her once she is settled in.

Thank you again to everyone who donated to our #Fences4Kenya campaign, as, without your support, Kuky and Pupy would not have a habitat to be coming home to. ❤️

Photo: Kuky has the wheel. Pupy is next to her.
Photo credit: Tomás Francisco Cuesta

July 1, 2020

Comments(31)

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Marilyn says
July 1, 2020 at 3:34 pm
Wonderful News!!
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Imogene Canady says
July 1, 2020 at 3:51 pm
What about the Mendoza 4?
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  EleComposer says
  July 1, 2020 at 4:15 pm
  The Mendoza4 are still first in coming to sanctuary, but COVID 19 is throwing a monkey wrench in everything. The biggest obstacle is that all of the public offices in charge of permits, regulations, quarantine discussions, etc are mostly closed. With Mara’s relocation, almost all of her paperwork was done before COVID took hold in South America. But even then they did have to get one set of things which they literally had to go in person and make phone calls to get someone to show up to assist them.
  So although we would love to bring them soon, we have no idea how long this will end up taking. The Mendoza4 are unfortunately in a hard spot for all of these offices to be closed.
  You can find more information on our Current Progess page.
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Audrey says
July 1, 2020 at 3:52 pm
Fabulous news. Thank you.
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Greg Sholes says
July 1, 2020 at 3:53 pm
I can’t wait for their arrival. What is the pronunciation of their names?
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  EleComposer says
  July 1, 2020 at 4:32 pm
  Kook-y and Poop-y. 🙂
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Elke Riesterer says
July 1, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Awesome news !!!❣️????
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Rachel says
July 1, 2020 at 4:12 pm
I was about to close up email when I saw this new post. I knew by the title that I couldn’t close up shop until I read what’s happening. Sooo excited for the African ele’s and for GSE. I’ll be watching and waiting for every step and will happily donate again in the near future to assist in my tiny way to help these elephants find a home they can’t even begin to imagine. Wonderful and heartwarming news!!
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Jillyp says
July 1, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Oh my goodness, fantastic news and 6 months is nothing when they’ve been 27 years cooped up at the Ecoparque. Great that Kenya will have company too. How exciting ❤️?? let’s hope all goes smoothly with paperwork etc. The ele family chez Global Sanctuary Brazil is growing ??????
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  FRANCINE FORD says
  October 12, 2020 at 3:53 pm
  The red tape you deal with is daunting. Making each elephant’s arrival home all the more miraculous. You all ROCK! Please tell us why Asian & Afican elleeze are separated? And will you put males & females together? Why do we not see many male Asian Elephants? Sorry about all the questions. If the info is on your webpages, I must’ve missed it. Thank you for all you do!
  ?❤?❤?❤?❤?❤
  - EleComposer says
    October 12, 2020 at 4:22 pm
    The biggest issue with keeping African and Asian elephants together is essentially they speak a different language. Behavior that is play for an African elephant is aggression to an Asian elephant. This is generally the root of most problems between the two species. Even when an African elephant tries to be social with Asian elephants, it is often met with refusal or aggression. If the two species do have a physical altercation, the Asian elephants are at a disadvantage due to both physical stature and lack of tusks. These uneven fights can have severe consequences.
    Aside from the possibility of elephants getting hurt, it creates a tense atmosphere. The Africans move quickly, put on displays and behave in a way that is unsettling to Asians. There are two main goals of sanctuary that this goes against. The first (and easy one) is replicating a life that is as close to nature as possible. The two would never be together in the wild and allowing them a more natural life allows them to display more natural behaviors and return more to what their species is supposed to be. The other is that sanctuary is about creating a safe space where elephants feel comfortable enough, for the first time in their lives, to be vulnerable, allowing them to work through significant emotional issues they’ve had for decades and finally begin to heal. This ‘safe space’ is cultivated in many ways, but if elephants are on edge due to their companions, they would not be in a place to let their guard down and work through issues as readily. Sanctuary is supposed to be the first time in their lives that it is all about them, and this means making decisions for the most scared and most damaged elephants.
    No, we will not be putting the females and males together, separate habitats are being built for each.
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Sherry says
July 1, 2020 at 4:28 pm
I am excited for these 2 beautiful elephants with the lovely names. I just love these names, Kuky and Pupy!❤️?
I wish I could be there when they arrive and help give them their first bath!
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Sallie Robbins-Druian says
July 1, 2020 at 4:29 pm
Oh boy! Oh boy! Super exciting & wonderful news! Cannot wait until they come to their new forever home. These two are gorgeous african eleys, and look like they really like to play! Yippee!
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Wim says
July 1, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Wonderful news for them finally they’ll find freedom and loving care. Still a long and hard road ahead. Wish for some speedy paperwork.
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Sheila says
July 1, 2020 at 4:36 pm
im so overjoyed that kenya will be arriving first followed by kuky and pupy. Oh how I hope for this to happen so kenya would not be alone again for years?. Oh my such wonderful news‼️ I can hardly wait! But I know covid 19 is very high in brazil. So guess I will have to wait! So wonderful! And mara knows pupy and kuky just cant get any better! Im sure mara will be the social intro director upon arrival telling all her sisters about pupy and kuky. Oh my.Exciting times to look forward to‼️ then. Poocha and guillermina and tomy. But im sure that will b late nect year‼️ everyone will be more than thrilled???❤️
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Lynne Russert says
July 1, 2020 at 4:41 pm
Hooray!!!!
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Tracy H says
July 1, 2020 at 4:44 pm
Oh my gosh this is fantastic news!!! Can’t wait for all of them to get there. Thanks for sharing this wonderful news
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Carol says
July 1, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Soooo excitedddd!!!!!
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Paula says
July 1, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Por fin el gobierno de Buenos Aires toma la inteligente decisión de hacer lo mejor por Kuky y Pupy!
Y gracias a ustedes por crear GSB ❤ Ustedes hacen esto posible!?
Saber que Kenia irá primero al santuario es una excelente noticia, es muy triste saber como viven los elefantes de Mendoza, vergüenza argentina!?
Pronto la vida de Kenia, Kuky, Pupy, Pocha, Guillermina y Tammy (el caballero asiático) cambiarán!
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Nishant Bhajaria says
July 1, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Will they not be with Rana, Mara, etc?
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  EleComposer says
  July 2, 2020 at 8:24 am
  Kuky and Pupy will be with Kenya in the female African habitat. Maia, Rana, Lady, and Mara are all in the female Asian habitat – as will be Pocha and Guillermina once they are transferred to the sanctuary.
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Linda says
July 1, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Wonderful news, love their names! Exciting days ahead!
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Dianna says
July 1, 2020 at 6:55 pm
This is fabulous news. Thank you to the city of Buenos Aires for doing the right thing for these girls and letting them live out the remainder of their years in the next best thing to complete freedom. They are some very lucky girls to be coming to Sanctuary Brazil where they will get the best of care from Scott & Kat & the rest of the wonderful staff there. So excited for them & their new sister to be, Kenya
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Leslie Sodaro says
July 1, 2020 at 7:41 pm
I am so clapping happy for all of them!!
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Julie says
July 1, 2020 at 8:34 pm
Oh my, you all are going to need more help! I wish it was me! I’m so happy about and for Kuky and Pupy. Are they the girls who were once with Mara? I’m getting confused. Anyway, poor lonely Kenya is the one I’m very anxious for. Her situation just seems unbearable, and I feel like I can’t relax until she’s home. ❤️
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  EleComposer says
  July 2, 2020 at 8:20 am
  Yes, Julie, they are at the same ecoparque where Mara was.
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Kyle says
July 1, 2020 at 8:47 pm
Great News! Can’t wait for their arrival!
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cyrann says
July 1, 2020 at 9:01 pm
Best news ever!!!!!
In these trying times this gives me such comfort…………………………………
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Susan says
July 2, 2020 at 12:09 am
???????????????????????????? So excited!!!!! ❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️???????
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Rosie P says
July 2, 2020 at 2:38 am
This is the most fantastic news! There is nothing like it for enriching the soul. Oh my, I am so excited, so happy.
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lori Hoover says
July 2, 2020 at 5:48 pm
OMG!! I don’t know how I missed this post, but I am so happy. I’m happy for Kenya, and hoping they will all three be a great team. I haven’t even read beyond your headline, I guess I should do that now, LOL

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