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The End of Day 5: Winding Down With Kenya

July 8, 2025

Kenya is doing so well. She’s incredibly calm, eating a lot of alfalfa, and looking beautiful as always. While everyone is ready to be done with the long trip, Kenya is being an absolute rock star. It seems quite impossible considering we’re still on the road, but Kenya already seems to be experiencing the beginnings of transformation.

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This is an update on Kenya’s relocation from Ecoparque Mendoza, Argentina, to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, a 2,800-acre natural sanctuary. Kenya was brought to Mendoza at 4 years old and has lived her entire life alone in a sterile zoo environment. Now, at 44 years of age, her life is about to change dramatically. She will have the space to roam, make her own decisions, and explore natural behaviors like foraging for food and bathing in the mud. In addition, for the first time in decades, she’s going to have the opportunity to have a new friendship with another elephant, Pupy.

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Comments(12)

  1. REPLY
    Debra says
    July 8, 2025 at 9:29 pm

    I doubt that she has ever been so surrounded by so much attention and love, despite her keepers at Mendoza. I am getting excited for the arrival and the high emotions that will accompany this tremendous homecoming to her forever paradise, with one of her own to greet her! Stay safe…..thank you all so very much.

  2. REPLY
    Robin Vitulle says
    July 8, 2025 at 9:47 pm

    She is making it SO EASY on YOU! She IS a ROCK STAR! It’s a tuff journey and could be so much harder…. She IS being such a sweetheart…. I can feel your emotion with her ALL READY transformation. She KNOWS!! 🥰♥️🐘♥️🥰

  3. REPLY
    Doe Fowler says
    July 8, 2025 at 9:59 pm

    Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Dear Team, you all are shining stars! ✨ Thank you for all that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do for our 🐘 friends. Big love to all! 💛✌🏻

  4. REPLY
    Maria José Agostinho says
    July 8, 2025 at 10:00 pm

    Wow! Amazing news before bedtime here.
    Thank you for sending the update.
    Kenya has that delicate face, for me she looks almost fragile. But no, thanks, no, she is strong and resilient.
    My attention for her was first captured when I saw the photo of her and the painted elephant on the wall, I usually joke saying that was love at first sight

    I have been wearing Kenya T-shirt since she got into the crate.

    Thank you everybody there!

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      July 8, 2025 at 11:00 pm

      Thanks for representing Kenya during her travels!

  5. REPLY
    Ada says
    July 8, 2025 at 10:01 pm

    Hopefully everyone will get plenty of rest once Kenya is home. Y’all are amazing humans🥰

  6. REPLY
    Barbara L Smith says
    July 8, 2025 at 10:29 pm

    I imagine after 40 sum years in that barren ring of hard dirt. The sight and smells as the truck rolls down the highway. The loving care and attention of the crew is causing a transformation in Kenya. I love her busy trunk examining every part of the crate it can reach. Tomorrow tomorrow, Kenya.❤️❤️

  7. REPLY
    Richard Chiger says
    July 8, 2025 at 10:38 pm

    I hope that she and Pupy will like each other and become good friends.

  8. REPLY
    Beci says
    July 9, 2025 at 12:16 am

    She is going to be so happy to be there. 😂 I’m cracking up because just seeing the tip of her trunk and only hearing you, not seeing you, it looks like she is telling us the story. You probably couldn’t have planned that to happen. Watch it and you’ll see what I mean. Like when you say “don’t worry “ she lifts it up a little exactly like she said it. What’s great is she speaks both languages ☺️😉🐘❤️

  9. REPLY
    Bonnie says
    July 9, 2025 at 1:31 am

    Sara question are Pupy and Kenya going to be ok together

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      July 9, 2025 at 2:59 am

      After Kenya has settled in and gotten comfortable at the sanctuary, we’ll introduce them. That usually happens across a fence line or through the gates of the barn. There’s no way to know how they’ll react to each other, but one of the great things about sanctuary is the amount of space the girls have to walk away if they want to.

  10. REPLY
    Denise says
    July 9, 2025 at 5:50 am

    Such an amazing journey to be part of, thank you for sharing the videos, it feels like we are all travelling with you

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