Video Update on Mara and Sanctuary Life

Live video update on Mara & Sanctuary life with Kat, Scott, Lady & brief cameos from Maia and Bugsy (the dog).

Mara’s trip is temporarily on hold. It has become clear that the safest option is to postpone Mara’s trip for a short while until things settle down.

Like many other countries around the world, Argentina & Brazil are both under varying degrees of “Stay at Home” orders and the border between the two countries is temporarily closed.

Argentina’s guidelines are very strict, and although we are in full agreement with them, it could serve to compromise the relocation. We also want to ensure we have our normal police escort, to avoid delays and issues between states as well as keep the transport team safe & healthy. Unfortunately and understandably, that was not possible if we stuck with the original schedule.

We are looking at all of the factors and hoping to bring her as soon as possible. Mara is still in quarantine and undergoing the appropriate treatments and testing, so she will not have to start over again. April is still an option, but things around the world are changing rapidly, so we cannot be sure at this point. We will continue to keep everyone posted as decisions are made.

Everybody involved is doing their best and hopeful that Mara’s relocation will occur soon. Mara continues to do well and her caregivers are continuing to love on her. We want to make it very clear that, even as her move is delayed, getting her safely to the sanctuary, and to Rana, Lady, and Maia, remains a top priority.

More details on the Live video, which comes with footage of Lady snacking and visiting multiple mud wallows.

March 31, 2020

Comments(15)

Lori Hoover says
March 31, 2020 at 8:31 pm
Thank you so much for the update. I still have to watch the video, after all, I do want to enjoy some Lady, Maia, and Bugsy time. I just wanted to thank you for the info on Mara. I had a feeling it would be postponed. I know it doesn’t feel like it’s the best for Mara, but it probably is the best for people right now. Either way, it is what it is, and I’ll be keeping you all and Mara and all the elephants waiting in the lines behind her in my thoughts. Stay safe everyone. I’m off to catch up on the video and any other posts on the other sites.
Casi Mahlberg says
March 31, 2020 at 10:02 pm
Stay Safe ?? Everyone #AloneTogether
Rosie P says
April 1, 2020 at 3:49 am
Thank you for this update. Of course it is disappointing that Mara’s transport will be delayed…and most likely for some time. However, the current situation across the world has disrupted the whole planet. While Mara’s relocation might be compromised it is priority that she, and all the incredible team, stay safe.
Sending love to you all at this time from the UK.xxx
Will Parker says
April 1, 2020 at 9:17 am
Thank you very much for the new video and update. Wonderful to see your sanctuary in full wonder. Always retweet your beautiful tweets. Wish you wonderful but most of all safe and sheltered days.
Julie says
April 1, 2020 at 12:34 pm
Tears from the post. Smiles from the video. A microcosm of life! ❤️. Would it be possible to get some updated pics of Mara being “loved on?” A little bit of Mara-cute would be very uplifting right now.
- REPLY
  EleComposer says
  April 1, 2020 at 1:50 pm
  Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. We have to get approval before posting any videos we receive from the caregivers.
Muriel Servaege says
April 1, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Stay safe is all I can wish you, rescuers and elephants..
Sheila says
April 1, 2020 at 3:09 pm
oh dear. ?hope it still will be late april yet for mara to come to ges in brazil!!?. yes the transporterswill have to take precautions and if borders are closed that is an added precaution for sweet mara! im still very excited to see her in her journey but it is i who must be patient?
Kelejan says
April 2, 2020 at 1:36 pm
I appreciate the video as it makes my self-isolating much more bearable. I brings peacec calm and beauty, and I can watch it whenever like. and beauty. Thank you for all you do.
Elephants says
April 2, 2020 at 8:10 pm
I Hope you don’t mind me asking what is the status of Kenya and P and G. Are you Working on getting licenses? I just want all the elephants to be a sanctuary and having a happy life
- REPLY
  EleComposer says
  April 2, 2020 at 10:18 pm
  You will find updates on all the Mendoza4 on our Current Progress page which we update periodically.
Rosie Anne Hales-Tooke says
April 3, 2020 at 9:43 am
Hi Scott and Kat, why do the elephants have to be separated sometimes, do they fight? And is Mara safe where she is waiting to be rescued.?
- REPLY
  EleComposer says
  April 3, 2020 at 4:24 pm
  Sure, sometimes they fight because sometimes they don’t like each other, sometimes they’re not secure enough to share their space with another elephant yet. After decades of captivity and of damage from captivity, both physical and emotional, they don’t know how to socialize. They’ve had some bad experiences and in most facilities, they don’t have a way to get away if someone comes after them, so some of them are extremely fearful, or they learn to fight back and become really confrontational. Captivity creates all sorts of behavioral issues. So yes, sometimes they need to be separated for their own comfort, for the comfort of other elephants. Sometimes it’s medically necessary. Sanctuaries in the States have separate areas for TB, and for other reasons. There are many reasons.
  For us, Lady is separated now but we hope it’s not a permanent thing. But if she shows that she is better with her own space and that’s what makes her happy, then she can have her own space. It’s not about what we think they should have – this picture of perfection that we humans have in our own heads – it’s about listening to what they want and what they need, and that’s what we try to give them. It goes back to them being able to recover from trauma and all the complexities involved. Humans have this idealistic view of what they should and shouldn’t have, and sometimes it doesn’t work that way because the damage is just too deep.
  As for Mara, yes, she is safe. We did a post a couple of days ago that goes into detail: https://globalelephants.org/video-update-on-mara-and-sanctuary-life/
Rosie Hales-Tooke says
April 3, 2020 at 9:56 am
What is the training that you give them, why do they have to be trained, to do what?
- REPLY
  EleComposer says
  April 3, 2020 at 3:56 pm
  We train for all medically necessary behaviors in order to take care of elephants that have been kept improperly for decades. They need a lot of medical attention and maintenance just like a dog, or a human. So we need to be able to perform blood tests, give injections, we need to be able to do footwork, and those sorts of things. We need to be able to scrub and medicate any wounds that pop up on any part of the body. So they have to be trained to present all sorts of different parts of their body. It’s all done with positive reinforcement training through protected contact. Sanctuary isn’t just about letting them go – we do have to take care of them so we need to be able to touch them. Decades of captivity takes a toll on them. And we need to be able to address any issues that they have, or that may come up.

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