R. Bostwick

Happy New Year, everyone! The sanctuary is buzzing with activity as preparations continue to welcome its first African elephants. The crates have arrived in Argentina—but why and how do you draw blood from an elephant? What’s a trunk wash? How are Kenya and Pupy being trained and prepared for their journey to Brazil? In this episode, Kat and Scott answer these questions and share behind-the-scenes stories of the logistics involved. We also catch up on the sanctuary’s wildlife rehab program, including updates on Junior and his mom—both giant anteaters—and Pushy the tapir, a former ...

This week's episode is a little different—and a little shorter! While the podcast team takes a brief break for holidays and work commitments, we didn’t want to leave you hanging. So, enjoy this fun compilation of pre-recording chats, bloopers, and other outtakes, courtesy of our producer Bob. We hope it brings a smile to your face until we’re back with a full episode on November 5th!

It’s finally time to load mother and daughter and literally take them from darkness into light. Scott reveals the final challenges the team faced upon arriving in Mendoza, including incomplete crate training and the need to keep the exact loading date secret, as not all zoo staff were happy to see Pocha and Guillermina leave. The team embarked on their long 5-day journey from Argentina to Brazil. While Pocha and Guille did remarkably well, it was the human elements that posed the greatest challenges, as usual, Scott recalls. Watch all videos of Pocha and Guillermina’s relocation. The ...

How are elephants trained, and how do you train two elephants who have never been separated before? Scott and Kat share insights into the training of Pocha & Guillermina, working within the limitations of enclosure size, weather, and the resources available at the zoo. Relocations are often far from straightforward, and GSE faces severe challenges as they get entangled in a game of politics and personal greed when export permits are withheld, with third parties suddenly claiming that Pocha and Guillermina should remain in Argentina. The episode transcript can be found here. Email: We’d love ...

Join us as we talk about Pocha and Guillermina, the mother and daughter rescued in May 2022 from the Mendoza Eco-Parque in Argentina. Kat and Scott recall their first encounters with these two elephants and the challenges of preparing them for their journey to a new life at the Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. Amidst the zoo's transformation into an eco-parque, Scott highlights the challenges of training two elephants who had never been separated before, while also navigating the obstacles posed by bureaucratic hurdles. Once again, the GSE team rose to the challenge, paving the way for this double ...

This week we take a detour to talk about the individual recovery stories of our elephants. Sparked by comments from supporters on videos of Guillermina and her interactions with the other elephants, Kat reminds us that, just like with humans, no recovery from trauma is linear or the same. We must not deny each elephant their right to recovery, however different and complex it might be. Guillermina was born into one of the most deprived environments Kat and Scott have ever witnessed in their careers. We talk about how far she has come in the past two years at the sanctuary, and her trauma of ...

In the first of our “Brazilian edition” episodes - our host Nadia is currently in Brazil at the sanctuary - we pick up from last time and continue to talk about Mara’s health. While her GI issues seemed to be getting better and her poop improving in quantity, size & consistency, she started to go off her food. After weeks of limited food intake, Mara laid down, making a large round shape in her abdomen visible. With both Bambi and Rana at her side, Mara recovers and is able to stand again. Today, she is doing well but, as Kat explains, she is one of the elephants they monitor the ...

Arriving at the zoo in Ribeirao Preto Scott recalls how much Bambi had changed not only physically but also mentally since he and Kat met her in 2013. She was curious but was spooked by the slightest noise and returned to the darkness of her barn. Scott and Dr. Trish let things flow at Bambi’s pace, letting her know that everyone is listening to her, seeing her insecurities, and respecting her need to take things slower. Eventually in the crate, the team set off on the short 1-2 day trip to the sanctuary. Kat recalls Bambi stepping off the crate very quickly and like all arrivals taking a ...

Bambi is the seventh elephant to call Elephant Sanctuary Brazil her home. Confiscated from the circus, she was first sent to the Leme Botanical Gardens and later on to a zoo in Ribierão Preto; both cities are located in São Paulo state, Brazil. Scott recalls how they first heard about Bambi during their exploratory trip to Brazil in 2013, and how the Leme Botanical Gardens asked them to take Bambi right then. But at the time, the soon-to-emerge non-profit GSE didn’t have a property. Bambi and GSE’s paths cross again several years later, when a judge rules that Bambi is to be sent to ...

You know and love Brett Goldstein from his role as Roy Kent on "Ted Lasso." Now, the handsome, Emmy-winning actor has a dreamy question for Handsome! Handsome is hosted by Tig Notaro, Mae Martin, and Fortune Feimster Follow us on social media: @handsomepod Merch: handsomepod.com Watch on youtube: youtube.com/@handsomepod Email the show: handsomepod@gmail.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.