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Elephant Sanctuary Brazil is situated on a 2,800-acre tract of land that has an incredible amount of natural features well-suited to improving elephant wellness. As we’ve mentioned before, the sizable and varied habitats allow the elephants to wander and climb, which improves their physical health. The natural forage they eat all day long allows their bodies to function naturally and is a huge improvement over what they’ve been fed at zoos or circuses. But the vast space has a huge impact on their emotional well-being, too. 

When elephants spend years in stark enclosures, they often numb their minds to the world around them. It’s sometimes easier to simply close off than let the full weight of their everyday lives enter their hearts. When the girls reach sanctuary, simply exploring their new home challenges their brains in a good way, and they begin to engage with their new habitat. Things can often be challenging–physically, mentally, and emotionally–but all of that can actually be helpful, since it means they have to figure things out on their own. They start to engage parts of their brain that have been dormant for decades. 

Lady was an elephant who thrived at sanctuary, and having room to find safety was an essential part of her healing journey. We suspect that her poor foot health and past interactions with other elephants severely impacted her comfort and willingness to share space with them. Though Lady did spend time in the same yard with both Rana and Mara on occasions, the energy of the others was too much for her, perhaps because she felt that she couldn’t move fast enough to get away from them if she needed to. None of the other elephants here ever showed any aggression toward her, but the past can leave imprints that affect your future. Lady had a right to feel safe in her own home, and inhabiting her own yard was part of the solution for her. 

Though she may have had physical limitations, Lady never let that hold her back from wandering to the furthest corners of her yard, always searching for the youngest, greenest grass. She knew she had all the time and space she needed, and didn’t have to worry about being surprised by another elephant as she explored. We always offered Lady opportunities to be in a yard with someone else if she wanted, but she never indicated that she did. She would communicate with the others from afar, and that seemed enough. Having room to roam appeared to bring her the peace that she may have been searching for. 

This GivingTuesday, we’re reaching out to our sanctuary family as we expand the Female Asian Habitat by approximately 200 acres. With your help, we can open up the amount of space for them to inhabit, meaning more walking, eating, and new challenges to face. It will also give us the opportunity to welcome more elephants when the time comes. Our goal is to raise $150,000 toward the total cost, and now through December 2, your gift will be doubled, thanks to a number of generous donors who are committed to ensuring the elephants at ESB grow and thrive. Join us in creating a more spacious, vibrant, and nurturing world for Guille, Bambi, Mara, Rana, Maia and those still to come.  Please give the gift of space today.