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Last week, during Scott’s visit to Argentina, Elephant Sanctuary Brazil signed an agreement with the director of the Mendoza Zoo and the Secretary of Environment to transfer all four of their elephants to sanctuary. Yes, you read that correctly, four new lucky residents will be given the best gift we can offer, one that lifts the spirit, rejuvenates health and keeps on giving with each new dawn for many years to come – the gift of Sanctuary.

Following the Yippee and happy dances, it’s time to get to work-and we’ll need your help. Before these four can all be moved we must build more fences and construct two new Elephant Care Centers, one for female African elephants and one for male Asian elephants. Yes, you read that right again. This is no ordinary rescue, not only are they living in conditions that may be some of the most deprived that we’ve ever seen, but we’re talking about 2 female Asian, one male Asian and one female African elephants. We have a lot of work to do, a lot of money to raise and a lot of paperwork to process. In the end we’ll all be celebrating for many days as these four explore their new home and rejoice in their new life.

In upcoming blogs we will introduce you to Pocha, Guillermina, Kenia and Tami. We’ll share what we know of each of them and explain what will be needed to prepare for their arrival. Many will want to know all of the whys and hows, but you’ll have to wait for now and check back for the next installment. Oh, and if that’s not enough excitement for one day, these four will likely be joined by four others…

They are ready to come. Now we need your help to give them the ultimate gift of sanctuary!!

We must extend an enormous thank you to Mariana, the new Director of the Mendoza Zoo for seeing that change was needed and making the progressive choice to put the elephants first. Getting elephants out of a zoo and into sanctuary can be a struggle that lasts for many years (as some of you know all too well.) It is phenomenal to be working with a zoo that is very willingly giving their elephants over to provide them with a better life.

Many of you may know of the Mendoza Zoo from Arturo the polar bear. For years he was the poster child for all that is wrong with zoos, everything about him spelled misery. Tragically, Mariana did not have time to move Arturo before he passed away earlier this year. Gone but not forgotten, new beginnings are being created to give the elephants and other zoo animals the chance at life that Arturo was denied.

The Mendoza zoo was recently in the news again with the announcement that Cecilia the chimpanzee was granted Habeas Corpus. This was a groundbreaking ruling, setting a precedent that sanctuary is the perceived logical choice that animals would choose if we could understand their voice and their true desires.

Change is happening, for elephants, chimpanzees, whales and this is just the beginning. South America is stepping up as the new global leader for progressive animal protection. For the elephants, we are all here to help usher in a brighter future.