Pupy Made the Most of Sanctuary

We’ll always remember the first time we saw Pupy barreling out of the trees here at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, her skin tinted leaf-green from finally being able to run around in the trees and bushes of the habitat. That’s the freedom that she always deserved, after years of living on dusty, hard surfaces and having nothing natural to graze on. When we met her years ago, she looked older than her years, a captive life having dampened so much of her spirit–but she still had a fire inside. She showed us as much the first time we heard that distinct cracking sound that can only mean a tree is giving way. Her true elephant nature had been there all along, and now it was ready to emerge.

Pupy didn’t have as much time at sanctuary as she deserved. No elephant ever does. But there’s evidence of her joy all around us. We can look into the habitat and see the trees she felled and the mud wallows she so carefully dug for herself, and realize that she was taking advantage of every bit of the natural world; we come upon the little “nests” that she made in the grass to sleep in and know that she finally had a soft place to land. Her story changed all of us forever and for the better.

Comments(22)

Bev Roy says
October 17, 2025 at 2:04 pm

I miss her
VJDay says
October 17, 2025 at 2:15 pm

My first experience with your wonderful sanctuary was Pupy coming home. My heart goes out to her and all the elephants. There was so much joy in seeing her become what she was. And now following Kenya. Yes we wish they could all grow old there.
Jane Whitfield says
October 17, 2025 at 2:32 pm

You said when you first announced her death , which has affected me deeply , that she has passed “ rocks not from this area “ .
Could we have some more info on that , it presumably means she had them in her tummy the whole time at Sanctuary . Wouldn’t she have shown signs of discomfort or trouble pooing ?
- REPLY
  Sara says
  October 17, 2025 at 2:45 pm
  
  We don’t have much information that we can share yet. There’s no way to know how long they’d been there, but at the very least for several months. Elephants are excellent at masking their pain, especially captive elephants who have had to endure so much over the decades. A team came to the sanctuary on the day Pupy passed away and did a necropsy. We’re still waiting on some test results, so we can’t say anything definitively yet.
Sue says
October 17, 2025 at 3:02 pm

Thank you for this lovely post ❤️. Such a shining, beautiful Girl who touched so many of us. She has a permanent place in my heart, just as all of you at Sanctuary do. I wish I had suitable words to express how thankful I am for all of you. Much love ❤️🐘❤️
Joey says
October 17, 2025 at 3:04 pm

It is always so hard to lose an animal. Your heart breaks when you experience the loss and continues to do so as time marches on. At times, you can’t even look at their picture without the tears flowing. But eventually, you get to the point where you can gaze with love at their pictures or videos again, not only feeling the love and joy and happiness they brought to your life and those of others but the joy they found for themselves. It’s at that point – seeing her brings tears, but knowing how much she was loved, how happy she was at the sanctuary, how much joy she found in her own world, free and safe and so loved. At that point, what is left are the incredible happy memories for a wonderful girl who lived her final time on earth where she should have been all along. I love her so much. Thanks for sharing the video of her having the best being an elephant, as it should be.
- REPLY
  Doe says
  October 20, 2025 at 2:48 pm
  
  Beautifully said, Joey. 💛 to all the GSE herd.
Anne Heiligsetzer says
October 17, 2025 at 3:10 pm

I really miss her, but I think back to how many times she brightened my days with her antics. Truly a very unique and a beautiful elephant. RIP Pupy
Yasmin Khan says
October 17, 2025 at 3:30 pm

From her transport to finally walking out of her crate at GSE, she was a beauty to behold. We can only rejoice in knowing that she left with memories of the sanctuary and all those who loved and cared for her. May you rest in peace, sweet one.
Jeanine says
October 17, 2025 at 3:46 pm

I am still broken up about this but am grateful she had sometime at your beautiful sanctuary.🐘
Kenneth B. Newman says
October 17, 2025 at 4:21 pm

Its NICE to be able to mourn, but GSE needs to get on with finding those other captive elephants to bring to GSE……HOW many MORE captive elephants exist in South America, and would they benefit from being transferred to GSE?
- REPLY
  Sara says
  October 17, 2025 at 4:34 pm
  
  We are always working on helping other elephants, and those conversations are often very delicate. We can’t necessarily share what’s going on behind the scenes, because it could potentially jeopardize an elephant’s future. Just because you don’t see us post about other elephants doesn’t mean we’re not doing anything.
Ada says
October 17, 2025 at 4:34 pm

You will forever be in my heart my dearest Pupy. My heart hurts that your life was cut short, but I take consolation that inspite of it, you experienced love from beautiful humans and a home that gave you joy and feeedom. I love you so much my sweet girl. Be at peace and I really hope there’s such a thing as a rainbow bridge so I’ll get to meet you someday.
Wim says
October 17, 2025 at 4:36 pm

Pupy’s heritage will embrace us with a special kind of magick, that she planted daily, with every step across the Sanctuary.
Carol says
October 17, 2025 at 5:10 pm

🥹🙏🏻🥹😔
Patricia Richardson says
October 17, 2025 at 10:45 pm

My heart is aching at the loss of sweet, hopeful Puppy. To think of her in the nighttime nests she made from fresh nature makes the ache even deeper. Bless you all for rescuing her and giving her eternal moments of joy and freedom and love.
Bonnie says
October 18, 2025 at 1:15 am

Scott and Kate and caregivers and Sara everyone of you gave her what she had been missing her Freedom always remember that I Thank all of you
Jennifer says
October 18, 2025 at 1:45 am

My heart is aching knowing that she didn’t have the many years of sanctuary bliss I thought she would. It certainly was a joy to see her enjoy, love and grow in the time she did have with y’all. Just know that y’all are in my prayers. 💔🙏🏻
Gigi says
October 18, 2025 at 4:23 pm

This video is magnificent and represents the joy of life of an elephant who has known nothing but misery before coming to the sanctuary. It is absolutely sad that Pupy was only able to enjoy it for such a short time. For all those who are sad for Kenya loosing her new friend, tell yourself that nothing will replace the few weeks where she learned what it was like to have a friend. But watch this video of Pupy and think that this is Kenia’s new life! That, she too can live as an elephant free and proud. And it is made possible by the wonderful GES team. She found nature, trees to love a little bit too much 😉, tranquility far from the incessant noise of the city, humans who truly love her, mountains of dirt and wonderful mud wallows!
I would have so wished that Tamy could live those same 6 months…

Goodbye, gorgeous Pupy, we will never forget you. ❤️

Long life to the GES! Thank you for trying so hard to help all the elephants in captivity. Kenya will probably have to wait a while before she has a new friend. But she hasn’t lost everything because she has you!
😘 🇨🇦
Alida says
October 18, 2025 at 4:25 pm

I miss Pupy so much, its hard to understand why her life was cut so short, she seemed so happy and well, then suddenly dies 🥹 a lot of us are struggling with this, but at the same time, I’m happy she got to experience freedom and happiness. Love you forever Pupita, I’ll never forget you ❤️🐘❤️
NANCY LOGAN says
October 19, 2025 at 5:59 pm

Happy tear jerker
Carey says
October 24, 2025 at 11:10 am

I can only say – I’m so very sorry, for Pupy, for Kenya, and for all Pupy’s human friends and well wishers.

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