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Today is #GivingTuesday, a day where people around the globe come together to give and help make the world a better place. This Giving Tuesday, we hope you consider giving to bring Pocha and Guillermina, mother and daughter, to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.  Donate Here

Pocha and Guillermina captured our hearts, and many of yours, from the first time we heard about them and saw photos of their enclosure. They currently live in a recessed enclosure – which means Pocha hasn’t seen trees, grass, the horizon, or anything other than a sliver of the sky since 1968. Born in the pit 22 years ago, Guillermina has never seen anything beyond her concrete walls and limited sky. She’s never seen grass, a sunset, or looked out into the distance. All of our rescue’s lives drastically change when they arrive at the sanctuary, but Pocha and Guillermina’s lives will change more than most. You can help bring them home to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.

Their CITES permits are approved, but there are still a few things that need to happen before the international move including additional training for medical testing, and their 30-day, in-house quarantine. There are some issues with getting Karissa and Chrissy to Argentina, due to COVID, but we are working on it. The hope is for a February 2021 rescue, but it’s impossible to have a firm timeline until our trainers are there and able to get started.

We don’t know how either elephant will react to a vast space or seeing the world around them. While Pocha has seen the world before, it’s been decades. Guillermina may have no idea that a world exists outside of the pit. She may become nervous and overwhelmed to see the sanctuary, or she may be a kid in a candy store and, like Bambi, decide to experience everything at once. Or she may fall somewhere in between. There’s no way to know, but we are excited to share their journey with you.

As a double rescue, the cost ends up being almost twice as much. $74,700 is needed to bring them home. The fundraiser started today with a generous $20,000 match, which has already been met (amazing!!).  Donate Now! Please help us bring horizons and hope to Pocha and Guillermina!

December 1, 2020