After spending over 30 years in captivity, African elephant Pupy has finally arrived at her new home: Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.
The 35-year-old elephant made the journey from Ecoparque Buenos Aires, where she lived most of her life after being brought to Argentina from Africa in 1993.
Pupy arrived at the sanctuary on Friday. She traveled more than 2,700 kilometers across Argentina and into Brazil. Her journey, closely monitored by veterinarians and caretakers, went smoothly.
She stood in her crate, calmly eating fruits, vegetables, and hay and taking vitamin supplements during the long trip.
She was the last elephant living at Ecoparque Buenos Aires, a zoo that turned into a nature park in 2016. The park has relocated over 1,000 animals to sanctuaries around the world.
At the zoo, Pupy shared her life with Kuky, another female African elephant who passed away in 2024. The two were known as “the Queens” by zoo staff. Before Kuky, an Asian elephant named Norma welcomed Pupy in 1993, but Norma died in 1995.
Pupy’s health has suffered during her time in captivity. She has a problem with her right ankle and looks older than her age. Despite this, she is known for her calm and curious personality. She enjoys watermelon, dry tree branches, bamboo, hay, and especially fruit ice treats in the summer.
At her new sanctuary home, Pupy is adjusting well. Though she is currently alone, she will eventually be joined by Kenia, another African elephant from Mendoza, Argentina.
Elephant Sanctuary Brazil
Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (ESB), the only elephant sanctuary in Latin America, was officially founded in 2016 after years of preparation.
Located on 2,800 acres of rich and diverse land in Chapada dos Guimarães, the sanctuary is home to five Asian female elephants: Maia, Rana, Mara, Bambi, and Guillermina. They live in a peaceful, natural environment that allows them to recover and thrive.
