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When Global Sanctuary for Elephants was established and we began the extensive search for the perfect land to house Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, we knew it had to be a vast space with lots of grass, trees, hills, water sources, and room to expand as we grew. That’s a tall order, but we did eventually find an ideal area here in Mato Grosso, Brazil, that was as close to a natural habitat as possible.  

The elephants who come to sanctuary almost always have physical challenges that daily interactions with Mother Nature can improve. The hills that were so important to us in our search now give the girls the chance to strengthen their muscles as they climb; crossing creeks and creating paths through the habitat improves agility; the greenery all around is well suited to their natural diet; their feet come into contact with natural substrates, helping nails and pads wear down safely; and they’re able to graze for sometimes over 15-hours per day, as they would if still in the wild. 

All of these things were especially important when Guillermina arrived. She was overweight and lacked muscle tone. For over 20 years, she’d had no land to walk, facing the walls of a concrete pit every day. Her diet was unsuitable for maintaining good health and weight, so it made sense that she’d arrive at sanctuary with a few (actually many) pounds to lose. And though she’s much more settled now, she has always had a big energy, and she initially didn’t have any experience interacting with other elephants, with the exception of her mother Pocha. Guille needed space to work off the youthful exuberance that sometimes caused the other girls to keep their distance–and the surrounding land was the only thing that could fill that need. 

Soon, Guille and all of her Asian elephant companions will have even more space to explore and claim as their own. The Female Asian Habitat is going to be expanding by approximately 200 acres, which will give the girls nearly twice as much space as they have today. This GivingTuesday, we are calling on our sanctuary family to help us raise $150,000 toward the total cost of the expansion. And now through December 2, your gift will be doubled, thanks to a collective of generous donors dedicated to continuing the sanctuary mission. After decades of not having enough, Maia, Mara, Bambi, Rana, and Guillermina are rebuilding their lives in the wild, open space they call home, and this expansion will give them–and the others still to come–even more room to move, explore, and flourish. Join us in making this life-changing expansion a reality. Please give today. 

Photo of Guillermina taking advantage of the space surrounding her. Maia stands at the fence behind her.