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National Wildlife Day

National Wildlife Day happens twice a year – September 4 & February 22. It happens twice a year to ”double the effort to help bring awareness of the plight of wild animals around the globe.”

While it would be easy for us to talk about elephants today (like we do every other day!), the fact is that the elephants at the sanctuary aren’t wild. They are still captive elephants. We do the best we can to have their lives be as wild as possible, but they will never truly be wild.

The elephants are surrounded by wildlife every day, though, and there is an incredible amount of wildlife here.  From seriemas to toucans, giant anteaters to frogs, it is impossible not to see or hear wildlife everywhere you go.

We take land stewardship very seriously. As an organization, our role isn’t just to provide the best lives possible for captive elephants. It’s also to provide sanctuary for all wildlife who pass through our land or call it home.

Our rehabilitation and release program sees a steady stream of animals that will ultimately become fully independent and wild.  One of our current rehab and release residents is the toucan in this video. He is allowed to come and go freely and is becoming more independent. We leave fruit out for him, but we don’t speak around him or interact with him.  While you can hear Scott talking in the video, he is inside, and the toucan can’t hear him.

Comments(11)

  1. REPLY
    Bonnie Kraft says
    February 22, 2021 at 3:05 pm

    I don’t see a video in what u posted!

    • REPLY
      sara says
      February 22, 2021 at 3:16 pm

      Thank you for letting us know! We’ll get on it ASAP.

  2. REPLY
    Lois Steinberg says
    February 22, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    Thank you so much! I am so happy to donate to your organization. Do you have information on how to name you in my will?

    • REPLY
      sara says
      February 23, 2021 at 10:43 am

      Thank you for such a generous consideration. Please contact Kristi via email: kristi @ globalelephants.org and we will can talk about what you want to do.

  3. REPLY
    Rachel says
    February 22, 2021 at 3:51 pm

    Wow – I can’t imagine what it’s like to have that beautiful toucan right outside your window! Very cool. I have a bird feeder in my backyard that attracts a variety of birds – I enjoy watching them; learning how they survive and interact with each other. A few songbirds sing to me (at a distance) when I take out the two feeders and two water bowls every morning (I bring them in every night to wash them and to detract other creatures like raccoons, skunks, etc.). When the temp dips into the teens or below zero, I’ll see up to 30 birds at once – mostly towhees & finches / sparrows, but bluejays and stellar jays, robins, & doves come around to grab a bite too. I refresh the water bowl every few hours with warm water (sometimes the water is already frozen), and add suet to their diet in winter. Brings such joy to my heart knowing I’m helping these amazing creatures survive during our snowy winters.

  4. REPLY
    Gayle Janzen says
    February 22, 2021 at 4:27 pm

    Thanks for this interesting info! I had no idea there was such a variety of animals in and around the sanctuary. Love see this adorable toucan!

  5. REPLY
    Sallie says
    February 22, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    CHEERS! HAPPY NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY! WOW! LOVE the toucan, feeling so comfy with his watermelon bits! Beautiful! And who can beat listening to “Las Tres Amigas” vocals, wailing away, attempting to out-pitch High Cs on the next couple of octaves! Great vids, and I’m going back for more!

  6. REPLY
    Alejandra Enquin says
    February 22, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    Gracias por proteger la vida salvaje en la Tierra,y hacer que las elefantas recuperadas del cautiverio puedan acercarse a su mundo lo mas posible.Que belleza el tucan comiendo papaia? Si ,escuche la voz de Scott,claro oculto y respetuoso para no interactuar y permitir que el tucan vuele cuando quiera a la jungla.

  7. REPLY
    Carol says
    February 22, 2021 at 7:14 pm

    Love this beautiful toucan. So precious! Thank you for brightening our day!!!???

  8. REPLY
    Sunny says
    February 22, 2021 at 11:03 pm

    The work you do is amazing ?

  9. REPLY
    Wim says
    February 23, 2021 at 4:38 am

    Wildlife gives a wonderful circle of life when and where allowed and protected.
    Lovely video with amazing Toucan. Stay safe. ?

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Global Sanctuary for Elephants

  • PO Box 2426
  • Brentwood, TN 37024
  • (615) 435-9523

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MISSION: Protecting, rescuing, and providing sanctuary for elephants worldwide.

Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt, public charity status (EIN 46-3564818) and all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

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