Our Wild World

Global Sanctuary for Elephants founders joined hands with notable experts, including Joyce Poole, to work on a solution to the growing crisis for captive elephants in South America. It has become apparent that captive elephant health, internationally, is in a state of emergency. Earth’s largest mammals live severely restricted lives in chains or extreme confinement with insufficient diet, and isolation from social groupings, leading to severe health complications, disease and psychological illness from extreme aggression, self-mutilation and withdrawal. Human awareness of the suffering of captive animals is increasing, creating a global desire for positive change. Developing an elephant sanctuary requires extensive knowledge of the natural life of elephants, how they live if left alone in the wild, understanding their social structures, diet, communication the meaning of natural elephant behaviors, postures and vocalizations