Global Rumblings Podcast

We’re back after a short, unplanned break, as Scott and the ESB team have been busy organizing and carrying out the transport for Sandro, the sanctuary’s first male Asian elephant.

We kick off this episode with an update on how Sandro is settling into his new life of autonomy, respect, and choice at the sanctuary which means that, very often, he is nowhere near camera reception, but instead out exploring his habitat.

Scott then takes us back to the events surrounding Sandro’s relocation from Sorocaba Zoo. We discussed the opposition to Sandro’s relocation in our last episode, but the incitement to violence by the city’s mayor, the protests, and the need for security guards and personal protection for the entire team made this an especially complex task.

But Scott and the ESB team did what they do best: they showed what decades of elephant expertise mean when carrying out a relocation like this, remaining open to dialogue even when faced with hostility, and ultimately bringing Sandro safely home after two and a half days on the road.

LINKS:

❤️ Give a little extra love & care by adopting Sandro

❤️ Shopfor yourself, friends & the elephants

❤️ Stay connected onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

After more than four decades at the Sorocaba Zoo in São Paulo State, Brazil, male Asian elephant Sandro may finally be on his way to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.

In this episode, we look back at Sandro’s long and somewhat uncertain history — from being taken from Asia as a young elephant and trained for circus life in the Netherlands, to performing in Brazilian circuses and eventually arriving at Sorocaba Zoo in 1982.

We talk about the years-long legal battle over Sandro’s future and why elephant relocations can involve so much work behind the scenes that simply cannot be shared while it is happening. We also look at some of the arguments used against moving elephants to sanctuary — and why those same concerns rarely seem to arise when elephants are transferred between zoos.

With Sandro’s relocation now moving forward, we talk about the preparations and challenges involved — from working within the limitations of his enclosure while ensuring everyone’s safety, to adapting his transport crate to keep him as comfortable as possible while travelling through Central Brazil during the hottest time of year.

And what will Sandro himself make of all these preparations? As always, the elephant ultimately has quite a lot to say about how things go.

If all goes according to plan, this charming, cheeky and rather “spicy” elephant will become Elephant Sanctuary Brazil’s first male Asian elephant — and finally have the opportunity to discover a very different way of life.

LINKS:

❤️ Help bring Sandro home. Donate here. Thank you!

❤️ Brazilian website: Sandro no santuario já.

The official episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Before jumping into stories from Baby's first weeks at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, we revisit a topic from our previous episode and put the sugar content of Gatorade into perspective by comparing it with sugar cane.

We also say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported our Trunks & Treasures online auction. Together with an incredibly generous donation from a longtime dedicated supporter, the sanctuary's very first on-site medical building is now fully funded.

Lastly, we share updates on how Baby is settling into her new home. We talk about her growing bond with her new caregivers, her love of hose baths, and most importantly, her increasing confidence as she explores her new world.

LINKS:

❤️ Our first medical building is funded. Thank you!

❤️ Give a little extra love & care by adopting Baby.

❤️ Shopfor yourself, friends & the elephants

❤️ Stay connected onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In this week's episode, we join Scott on the three-day road trip that finally brought Baby from Beto Carrero World, the amusement park where she had spent decades, to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.

Already accustomed to a crate from an earlier planned relocation to another zoo—before a court ordered that Baby would instead be transferred to ESB—Baby stepped confidently into her transport crate. But what should have been a straightforward departure soon presented unexpected challenges.

Scott explains why the sanctuary's purpose-built elephant transport crates are very different from a standard overseas freight container, and how using the crate originally built for Tamy—a much larger male elephant—created unexpected challenges when transporting Baby, leading to delays before the journey could begin. Even with the judge's ruling in Baby's favor, there was still the possibility that last-minute legal intervention could have stopped the rescue altogether.

Along the way, we also talk about the importance of keeping both Baby and her human care team well fed and hydrated during the long drive, and clear up a common misconception about why Gatorade is used on these relocation trips.

Finally, Scott and Kat share an update on how Baby is settling into life at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil as she begins the next chapter of her healing journey.

LINKS

❤️ Give a little extra love & care by ⁠adopting Baby⁠.

❤️ ⁠Shop ⁠for yourself, friends & the elephants

❤️ Stay connected on⁠ Facebook⁠,⁠ Instagram⁠, ⁠X⁠, ⁠Threads ⁠& ⁠YouTube⁠.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you ⁠podcast@globalelephants.org⁠

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:⁠ https://globalelephants.org/⁠

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can⁠ support our work⁠ with a general donation, purchasing items from our⁠ wishlist⁠, or⁠ adopting⁠ one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also⁠ donate with Crypto!⁠

Thank you for your support!

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Elephant Sanctuary Brazil has a new resident! Baby, a 34-year-old female Asian elephant, arrived at the sanctuary on 20 June 2026, following a court-ordered relocation from Beto Carrero World in Brazil.

In this episode, we look back at Baby’s life before sanctuary, and one thing becomes strikingly clear: her story reflects many of the themes we’ve explored throughout our Rethinking Elephants series. Born into captivity, separated from her mother before her first birthday, and sold into the entertainment industry, Baby spent more than three decades under human control before finally beginning a new chapter.

Kat and Scott reflect on Baby’s past, discuss the medical challenges she now faces, and explain why patience and careful observation will be key to understanding who Baby truly is.

Despite the sobering realities of her past, Baby’s story is ultimately one of hope. It is another reminder that sanctuary offers captive elephants the chance to finally live life on their own terms.

Muito obrigado to everyone who helped make Baby’s rescue possible.

LINKS

❤️ Give a little extra love & care by adopting Baby.

❤️ Shopfor yourself, friends & the elephants

❤️ Watch Baby get a big bath from Scott.

❤️ Stay connected onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

We’ve all heard an elephant trumpet, but what does a rumble or a squeak sound like? Where in the body are these sounds produced, and what do they mean?

In this week’s episode, we explore the fascinating world of elephant communication. From audible vocalizations to infrasonic and seismic communication beyond human hearing, we discuss the many ways elephants share information with one another.

We also explore how captivity may influence communication. How do elephants who have spent years—or even decades—in isolation learn to “talk elephant” when they finally get the chance to live with other elephants? Is communication instinctive, learned, or a combination of both?

Actually, our conversation starts with a surprising, and rather funny, misunderstanding over the word “torch”, proving that communication can be complicated even when humans are speaking the same language.

PS: No slugs were harmed during or after this recording. 💚

Links:

❤️ Become a Pathfinder and support our work starting at USD10 a month.

❤️Stay connected onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In this episode, we explore something that seems to contradict much of what we’ve discussed in past episodes: Why do inherently social, deeply bonded elephants sometimes choose solitude, even when given the opportunity to build relationships at a sanctuary?

How can an elephant who has never — or only briefly — experienced life within a true herd suddenly be expected to behave the way we think they should? How much do trauma, captivity, and personal choice shape social tolerance and connection?

And does physical separation really mean these elephants are disconnected, or are they still bonded in ways we humans cannot fully see, sense, or understand?

PS: 📅 Save the date and join us from June 12–20 for Trunks & Treasures, our virtual silent auction supporting the construction of a new on-site medical facility for the elephants and wildlife at the sanctuary: https://globalelephants.org/trunksandtreasures/

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In this episode, we explore one of the most profound qualities we see and admire in elephants: their ability to grieve.

Kat and Scott share stories from decades of working with captive elephants, revealing that grief is not just a moment, but a process. For some elephants in captivity, especially those encountering loss for the first time, this process may need to be learned or reawakened. Yet once it surfaces, it appears deeply instinctive and becomes part of who they are.

We also examine the growing conversation around elephant emotional intelligence and the gap that still exists between what we are beginning to understand and how elephants are treated in many captive environments.

While this is a more somber topic, it also offers something hopeful, a reminder that in witnessing elephants, we may find a way back to our own capacity for connection, compassion, and love.

📅 SAVE THE DATE: Our online auction Trunks & Treasures runs June 12–20, 2026. Join us to support the elephants’ medical care and bid on incredible items, including a trip for two to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil!

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

❤️ Become a Pathfinder and support our work starting at USD10 a month.

❤️Stay connected onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In this episode, we explore some of the traits we so admire in elephants: empathy, self-awareness, and their capacity for grief, and how these are shaped by the bonds they form over a lifetime.

Scott raises an important question: Can we truly understand relationships that develop over decades within multi-generational herds, when our own lives are so far removed from that kind of social structure?

We look at how bonds form and what happens when they are disrupted. How do elephants in captivity build relationships without the foundation of a natural herd? And how might their experience of loss differ from that of wild elephants?

Drawing on their work at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil and The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, Kat and Scott share moving stories of friendship, leadership, and loss, offering a rare insight into the emotional lives of elephants.

We also touch on moments that are harder to explain, instances that hint at a deeper awareness, a kind of “knowing” that challenges our understanding of connection and what it means to be an elephant.

🐘❤️ Become a Pathfinder and support our work starting at USD10 a month.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In the first episode of our new Rethinking Elephants series, we begin by exploring the architecture of elephant societies. Scott and Kat give an overview of herd structure—from matrilineal families and the role of the matriarch to key differences between African and Asian elephants.

While many of our listeners are already elephant-savvy, this episode asks a deeper question: what happens when these natural systems are missing? What does life look like for captive elephants who are missing the guidance of a matriarch or the support of a multi-generational herd?

We also reflect on individual stories, like Pocha raising Guillermina alone, without the allomothering and social framework elephants rely on in the wild.

This episode sets the foundation for the series, drawing on the architecture of elephant societies and the bonds that shape an elephant’s life.

🐘❤️ Become an aunt - or uncle - to one of our elephants. Adopt one or more of The Girls!

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In this week’s episode, we catch up with Kat and Scott. While they’re still busy providing documentation to SEMA, we’re happy to share that the temporary suspension of the sanctuary’s operating licence has been lifted.

We also celebrate one very dedicated listener with our first-ever Global Rumblings Podcast Binge Award of 2025 — after listening to every episode in just one month.

For the past three seasons, we’ve been catching up on the last ten years of Scott and Kat’s lives since arriving in Brazil. Now, it’s time to zoom out.

We introduce a new multi-part series, Rethinking Elephants: The Bigger Conversation — a deeper exploration of who elephants are, what science now understands about them, and the larger ethical questions surrounding captivity.

Over the coming episodes, we’ll explore elephant society and communication, trauma and social disruption, neuroscience and welfare research, the physical costs of confinement, the history of captivity, modern conservation debates, why society continues to accept it — and ultimately, what an ethical future for elephants could look like.

Sign the petition

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where former zoo and circus elephants from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In this episode, we discuss recent developments at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (ESB) following the deaths of Pupy and Kenya, the sanctuary’s two female African elephants, in 2025.

As we have seen in recent weeks, we are living in a time that is exposing a troubling side of our society — one where false and negative claims are more readily accepted than positive truth, and where it often seems easier to believe accusations of manipulation and corruption than to accept that honesty and integrity exist.

In this conversation, we examine how anti-sanctuary narratives and the temporary suspension of ESB’s license to bring in new elephants have emerged in this climate — and why the impact extends beyond elephants, affecting wider wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

At the same time, we explore why this difficult moment may also present an opportunity: to bring clarity through evidence-based review, and to highlight the vital — and too often misunderstood and ignored — responsibility sanctuaries around the world take on when they accept elderly, chronically ill, and end-of-life elephants into their care.

We urge supporters to sign and share our petition calling for fair, transparent, and equal standards — ensuring that Elephant Sanctuary Brazil and zoos in Brazil are assessed by the same regulatory criteria.

What we know so far about Pupy & Kenya’s passing

Transparency and Accountability for All

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Please note that this episode was recorded prior to Kenya’s passing.

In our final podcast of 2025, we start by clearing up last episode’s “acre-gate” and confirming the size of the expanded female Asian habitat: once completed, our elephants will have approximately 280 acres to roam.

There is still time to support our year-end fundraiser for this major expansion. With a USD 75k match in place, every dollar you give is doubled.

We look back on a year filled with both heartbreak and hope — from Argentina becoming elephant-free to the milestones, losses, and moments that shaped life at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. Kat and Scott share their personal highlights of 2025, and we close with a look ahead to 2026, including early plans and possibilities for the year to come.

Links:

•

Donate herefor the expansion of the female Asian habitat

•

•

Watch ourVision for Sanctuary:

•

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

We’re back after our holiday and have a lot to talk about! Kat and Scott have just returned from the US, where part of their trip included attending one of the film festivals screening The Ramba Effect, the documentary about Chile’s last circus elephant and beloved late ESB resident, Ramba. We also share how Kenya is doing after the sudden and heartbreaking loss of her companion, Pupy.

As the year draws to a close, we turn to our end-of-year fundraiser, which kicked off on GivingTuesday, 2 December. This year’s campaign is made up of two parts: the GivingTuesday goal of USD 150,000 (including a USD 75,000 match), and a second year-end goal of another USD 150,000 (with a USD 75,000 match). In total, the combined goal is USD 300,000, with USD 150,000 of that coming from matching donations. This campaign supports the major expansion of the Female Asian Habitat: an additional approximately 200 acres, bringing the total area for the girls to around 280 acres.

The new area is one large, undivided landscape with natural vegetation, hills, streams, and endless opportunities for exploration — offering Maia, Rana, Mara, Bambi, and Guillermina even more freedom, choice, and room to heal.

*For scale: 280 acres ≈ 1.13 km², or about 159 soccer fields, 212 American football fields, and roughly one-third the size of Central Park in New York City.

The next podcast airs on Tuesday, 30. December 2025

Links:

•

Donate here for the expansion of the female Asian habitat: https://globalelephants.org/room-to-roam-fundraiser-last-chance-to-give/

•

Buy Christmas gifts for both humans & elephants: http://www.shop.globalelephants.com

•

Watch our Vision for Sanctuary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgPw6W5J0Wc

•

• Documentary “The Ramba Effect”: https://www.therambaeffect.com/

• Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Kenya & Pupy’s first steps together

Please note that this episode was recorded prior to Pupy’s sudden passing.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for since Kenya’s relocation to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil on July 9, 2025, is finally here! Pupy and Kenya are now sharing the same yards, and can begin exploring this next step.

Scott and Kat share how Kenya is learning to channel her big energy as she realizes that Pupy needs more reassurance in this new relationship. We also explore how Pupy’s past elephant interactions have shaped her personality, and why—just like with humans—being the same species doesn’t automatically mean becoming best friends. Expectations need to be realistic and never forced onto the elephants.

With Halloween just around the corner, we also talk about Kenya’s foot health and the fundraiser dedicated to it. Decades of captivity and little to no medical care have taken their toll on her feet, and she will require ongoing, long-term care.

🎃Donate here: Kenya’s Halloween Foot Care Fundraiser

Join the Facebook support group Friends of GSE

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, Threads& YouTube.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

On 29 August 2013, Global Sanctuary for Elephants was founded as a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit—paving the way to a better life for South America’s elephants. In today’s episode, we look at the progress made over the past 12 years and what still needs to happen so captive elephants everywhere can live as naturally as possible.

☕ Giveaway: 🎉 Don’t miss your chance to celebrate 12 years with us! Win one of 12 “Sip-Rumble-Repeat” podcast mugs by sending an email to podcast@globalelephants.org with the words “I’d love a mug”.

If you don’t win, you can still order your mug athttps://shop.globalelephants.org.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Time flies when you’re having fun—and that couldn’t be truer for Kenya, who has already spent her first four weeks in her new home.

In this episode, we discuss how Kenya is settling in, transforming from a polite wanderer into a bold explorer. She’s knocking down trees, enjoying her mud wallow, and her caregivers are training her to get comfortable with routine examinations.

And what about Pupy? While they often meet along the fence line, Scott and Kat explain that Pupy just needs a bit more time to adjust to Kenya’s bubbling energy.

Like the elephants before her, Kenya’s transformation—both physical and psychological—is well underway as she discovers herself with every step.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

Happy days! Elephant Sanctuary Brazil has a new resident: Kenya, the female African elephant relocated from Mendoza Ecoparque in Argentina. In this podcast, we talk about the final days leading up to her move and the last-minute preparations before the team hit the road. Scott shares stories from the five-day journey, including some unexpected technical issues with the truck.

It was another daylight arrival—unlike Pupy, Kenya didn’t wait long to take her first steps onto sanctuary grounds.

A big thank you to Argentina, which has officially ended the practice of keeping elephants in captive zoo settings—an ethical decision that needs to be echoed around the world.

Check out Kenya’s relocation journey and learn more about her here.

Buy a gift basket for Kenya in ouronline shop.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

With the shock and sadness of Tamy’s sudden passing still fresh, we take a closer look at the mechanisms behind elephant rescues and the broader challenges GSE faces. Transparency has always been a core value at GSE, and this extends to Tamy’s relocation story.

Kat and Scott share their thoughts on how elephants in captivity—particularly in zoos unequipped to meet their complex needs—have often been neglected for decades. While that neglect is quietly accepted by many, efforts to offer these elephants a better life are sometimes met with resistance and public outcry. External pressures, internal politics, complacency, and a reluctance to support meaningful change can ultimately rob elephants of the chance to live with dignity and autonomy—leaving them stuck in inappropriate environments or, as in Tamy’s case, passing away before rescue becomes reality.

Though we end the podcast in tears, Scott expresses a firm commitment to continue fighting for these elephants, despite this heartbreaking setback.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.

In this week’s podcast, we shine a light on the humans behind the sanctuary—especially co-founders Kat and Scott—to find out what they actually do all day. You might be surprised to learn that direct elephant care isn’t the main part of their daily routine. A large portion of their work involves managing staff in both Brazil and the U.S., juggling logistics, and overseeing projects across multiple time zones.

Kat and Scott also talk about their current projects and how their decades of expertise in captive elephant husbandry have made them sought-after consultants. Despite the heavy workload and immense responsibility of running a sanctuary, neither would have it any other way.

And soon, the winner (and guest) of our virtual auction sweepstakes will get the chance to see it all firsthand during their upcoming visit to the sanctuary.

Please note that this podcast was recorded before Tamy’s passing.

The episode transcript can be found here.

Email: We’d love to hear from you podcast@globalelephants.org

Who we are: Global Sanctuary for Elephants exists to create vast, safe spaces for captive elephants, where they are able to heal physically and emotionally. There are elephants around the world in need of sanctuary, but too few places exist to be able to care for even a fraction of the elephants. International support is necessary to build sanctuaries for elephants in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Our pilot project is Elephant Sanctuary Brazil where Asian and African elephants relocated from across South America live their best lives.

Website:https://globalelephants.org/

Donate: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You cansupport our work with a general donation, purchasing items from ourwishlist, oradopting one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can alsodonate with Crypto!

Thank you for your support!

Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, X, & YouTube

While we encourage and appreciate you sharing our podcast, please note that…

This presentation is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of the presentation or its contents without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

© 2023 Global Sanctuary for Elephants

A big Thank You to the talented musicians Mike McGill, Ron McGill, & Sean Rodriquez for composing our podcast jingle.