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The International Day of Friendship was established in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly with the idea that friendship can inspire peace and build bridges. We at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil are in a bridge building stage, at least as far as Pupy and Kenya are concerned. Friendship doesn’t look the same to everyone and it can take longer for some to trust new people and build bonds–especially when you haven’t had much contact with the outside world for decades. 

We’re seeing more and more curiosity between Pupy and Kenya. There are rumbles going back and forth between them, and they’ve been presenting body language that suggests they are open to some interaction, if slowly and on their terms. They have stood near each other, though on opposite sides of the fence, multiple times and have the ability to interact more if they choose. It might be a longer, more intentional path to friendship, but deciding to be friends is a choice they both get to make and whatever they choose will be right for them. Even the closest of friends have had complicated relationships at times, as Maia and Guida taught us years ago. 

Today is also a day when we can send a heartfelt message to our Global Sanctuary for Elephants international community of friends: thank you for advocating for captive elephants everywhere. Your commitment to the cause and to GSE quite literally means that we can accomplish the sometimes impossible-seeming goals we set together. More lives are saved because of your friendship; in honesty, you are much more than that–you’re family. We hope you call or text a friend today and remind them of exactly why they are special to you.