Episode 66: Accusations, Manipulations & False Claims

<p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>We urge supporters to <a href="https://www.change.org/p/protect-captive-elephants-and-demand-fair-oversight" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">sign and share our petition</a> calling for fair, transparent, and equal standards — ensuring that Elephant Sanctuary Brazil and zoos in Brazil are assessed by the same regulatory criteria.</p><p><a href="https://globalelephants.org/what-we-know-so-far-about-pupy-and-kenyas-passing/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">What we know so far about Pupy &amp; Kenya’s passing</a></p><p><a href="https://globalelephants.org/transparency-and-accountability-for-all/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Transparency and Accountability for All</a></p><p><br /></p><p>The episode transcript can be found <a href="https://globalelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EP66-GRP-transcript.pdf" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">here.</a></p><p><strong>Email: </strong>We’d love to hear from you <a href="mailto:podcast@globaelephants.org" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast@globalelephants.org</a></p><p><strong>Who we are:</strong> 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.</p><p><strong>Website</strong>:<a href="https://globalelephants.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://globalelephants.org/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Donate</strong>: Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. Our work is made possible by donations. You can<a href="https://secure.globalelephants.org/forms/general-donate-button" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> support our work</a> with a general donation, purchasing items from our<a href="https://globalelephants.org/wishlists/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> wishlist</a>, or<a href="https://globalelephants.org/adopt-an-elephant/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> adopting</a> one (or all) of our elephants for a year. You can also<a href="https://globalelephants.org/donatecrypto/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> donate with Crypto!</a></p><p>Thank you for your support!</p><p>Follow us on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/globalsanctuaryforelephants" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sanctuary4elephants/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Instagra