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Ramba Made the Most of Every Moment at Sanctuary…

Ramba

Many of you wanted to know, so as promised, we are sharing the results of Ramba’s necropsy that were just finalized. Her cause of death was determined to be chronic renal failure-which was not a surprise to any of us. Ramba’s kidneys struggled for years to do their job, filtering waste from her blood. They became less and less efficient and more waste built up. If she were a human, she would have been on dialysis while waiting on a transplant list. That’s just not an option with elephant medicine.

Ramba was diagnosed with chronic kidney compromise shortly after being removed from the circus and brought to the safari park in Chile, 7 years ago. Her first blood draw sample showed the issues were not new and were already established. As with many elephants, although they may physically leave their original facility, the lifetime effect those places had on them follows.

Several vets estimated Ramba would live less than one year. Two other captive elephants in the US with similar conditions both died within a year of diagnosis. But everyone that was part of her rescue was determined to try to do more and see her at sanctuary one day. Numerous veterinarians, organizations, and doctors were consulted, and several modalities were used to try to slow the progression of her disease- and that’s precisely what happened. Her blood values continued to rise, but at a snail’s pace over the years. This wasn’t a disease anyone was going to cure, the goal was to buy her time, give her love, keep her comfortable, and bring her home.

Ramba did make it to the sanctuary and jumped all in, acting as if she had been here for years. Looking back, it seems as if she might have known her time was short, and she was going to make the most of every moment. And she did. ❤️

February 8, 2020

Ramba’s Memorial Page

 

Comments(16)

  1. REPLY
    Tammy says
    February 8, 2020 at 1:48 pm

    Dear sweet sweet Ramba forever in our hearts, we miss you so very much. Thank you for teaching us how to be strong how to enjoy every moment how to make every second count. You will forever be that smiling face of sanctuary of your home that will continue to give so very much to those elephants that will literally follow in your beautiful footsteps a gift from you to them of what it truly means to be free to be happy to live the way you were meant to in peace, thank you Ramba for everything, God bless you

    • REPLY
      Irene says
      February 8, 2020 at 4:49 pm

      Rest In Peace our beloved Ramba! Warms our hearts that you made it home and enjoyed the last leg of your life on earth! ??♥️♥️

      • Andrea says
        October 6, 2020 at 2:45 pm

        Que tristeza me da, pobrecita Ramba.
        X suerte gracias al Santuario pudo conocer la libertad es una pena q no pudo mas con su vida.
        Pequeña gigante, hermosa Ramba son unos seres hermosos los elefantes, gracias a ustedes GSE puedo saber como son los elefantes y conocerlos aún más. Son hermosos ! ??? un beso al cielo, Ramba.

  2. REPLY
    Kelejan says
    February 8, 2020 at 2:20 pm

    This makes me cry, but I am so glad that she made it to Sanctuary and had that time that she made the most of. However short the time she had with you, you made it worth her while.

    • REPLY
      Barb says
      February 8, 2020 at 9:50 pm

      Dearest Ramba is no longer by your side but forever in the hearts of so many. She did indeed make the best of her home at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.

  3. REPLY
    Terry Feleppa says
    February 8, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    The Ramba effect has touched us all and will live in the very happy place in our hearts and souls. The Ramba effect will rise us up to be The Love and The Light for all Elephants, to do our part in freeing them from captivity and bringing them home to sanctuary. I am intensely grateful to Ramba and to ALL the kind, caring, loving humans who work tirelessly to make this happen. ??????????

    • REPLY
      Lynne Russert says
      February 9, 2020 at 11:52 am

      Tragic, but so grateful she experienced freedom, love & peace before crossing into heaven.

  4. REPLY
    Nishant Bhajaria says
    February 8, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    Ramba will live in our hearts forever; in moments of tenderness between the other elephants, Ramba’s soul shines through.

  5. REPLY
    Bobi StaySee says
    February 8, 2020 at 3:41 pm

    Ramba. Maybe you weren’t too sure you were strong enough to make the trip, to step into that crate and into the unknown …again; but you must have felt the love, our love pull you in. When your plane landed on this side of the Andes, we all cried happy tears of relief. That you endured the long drive into the heart of warm, safe territory, supported by a team with you and a virtual team cheering for you every mile (could you feel us?). Sanctuary greeted you with a long satisfying tree hug. Quiet, at last. That very soon a new friend would gleefully show you all around, how Rana joined you in all the wonderful sensations and places to explore, all the fresh, green grass you can eat any time you choose to, pampering and treats and treatments, all for you, you who held true, you who softened the surrender, to have a favorite yard to walk to, a favorite tree to lay under held in fresh sweet grass under the canopy. Did you relish the tickle of the cool grass on your old body? Perhaps with the last exhalation you reached up and instantly you were met by trumpets calling in joyful reunion with Guida… and so many, many others. “The Ramba Effect;” timeless. (We know you’re keeping an eye on Lady, too.) Thank you. Oh, and its no accident your shirts are out on delivery and arriving along with this report! Love lives.

    • REPLY
      alana says
      February 8, 2020 at 10:11 pm

      Thank You Bobi, so beautifully stated.

  6. REPLY
    Lori Hoover says
    February 8, 2020 at 5:27 pm

    Thank you for sharing this with us. I do think you are right, I think Ramba knew, I swear that’s why she gave us what seemed to be a last close up in one of her last videos. I think she came out of her crate, said…….OK, what can I do, and did it. Then, she also seemed to say: What can I do for the ellies here; She gave Rana the best friend she wanted, I think she started the process of Maia opening up again, and she even worked to put Lady at ease. I’m crying a bit now, thinking of the strength and bravery she showed, and she seemed to do it so easily. What a wonderful being. I’ll remember and love her always.

  7. REPLY
    Muriel Servaege says
    February 8, 2020 at 6:46 pm

    Dear Ramba, you will be in our hearts for ever. You had a wonderful attitude as death was approaching..

  8. REPLY
    Danielle says
    February 9, 2020 at 6:20 am

    I’m afraid I can’t look on the bright side of this. Ramba wasn’t the first elephant I cared about. I sponsor another that I love. But Ramba entered my heart in a way that surprised me and I haven’t been able to care for another. I mean, I’m glad Lady is there. I want her to be happy and have a good life. But I’m not able to be emotionally invested in her recovery because it still hurts too much for the loss of Ramba. I wanted her to have more time. I’m not at the stage where I can be grateful for the time she had. I’m just sad for her loss.

  9. REPLY
    JoAnn Merriman Eaton says
    February 9, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    At least she had a few months of freedom. I hope she was not in pain from this kidney disease, that is the best we can hope for. Ramba touched my heart in a way I cannot describe, as she did many others. I followed her plight for years, then watched every possible minute while she was being crated, the loading, the flight, the truck drive to the sanctuary, then finally stepping into freedom. I wanted so much longer to watch her grow, develop friendships, and just be the free elephant she was born to be before humans interfered. She was so very special.

  10. REPLY
    Sheila says
    February 10, 2020 at 2:46 am

    THANKS FOR INFO! DEAR SWEET RAMBA HAD TO HAVE BEEN IN TERRIBLE PAIN ALOT! LETHARY ALSO! THIS NEWS JUST PROVES HOW ROTTEN. AND EVIL CIRCUSES AND ZOOS ARE TO ELEPHANTS! ELEPHANTS JUST DO NOT GET ADEQUATE WATER AND EXERCISE! NO WHERE TO LAY DOWN TO REST TOTAL BODY SO KIDNEYS! HEART LUNGS ETC ALL CAN FUNCTION BETTER! PLUS THE DIET ELEPHANTS.R PROVIDED WITH IS NOT LIKE THEY GET IN THE JUNGLE! IM SAD STILL THAT GORGEOUS SWEET ❤️RAMBA SUFFERED SO MUCH IN HER LIFE! IN CHILE SHE WAS WELL CARED FOR BY THE LADIES! AND YES SHE HAD 2 MONTHS WITH LOVING RANA AND MAIA! LOTS OF JUNGLE FOOD PLUS THE VEGGIES AND FRUITS FROM THE BARN MEALS AND SNACKS! ?NO ONE THAT HAD CONTACT WITH RAMBA TREATED HER BADLY EVER JUST A HUGE FLAW IN “ ADMINISTERING HER RELEASE PAPERS FOR SIX YEARS” BY HUMANS (NONE OF GES FOLKS) SADLY THAT CERTAINLY SHORTENED HER LIFE IN BRAZIL ASTOUNDING HEAVENLY PARADISE HOME?❤️ RAMBA HAD SISTER LOVE!GORGEOUS WEATHER AND IN MY SPIRIT I BELIEVE SHE FOUGHT HARD TO LIVE?

  11. REPLY
    Elke Riesterer says
    February 10, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Ramba-Girl will be never forgotten, she will forever have a resting place in my heart and in many others who followed her journey to the sanctuary. She made the best of her short time at the new home she embraced so beautifully. ❤️?

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