She was the last elephant in captivity at the Ecoparque de Mendoza and in Argentina, she begins to live a new life.
She traveled 3,600 kilometers on a journey that took over seven years of preparation and training. She starts a life with others of her species, in an area of 1500 hectares in Mato Grosso.
Kenya, the last elephant from the Ecoparque de Mendoza and the only one left in captivity in Argentina, after a 5-day journey, marked a unique moment when she crossed the Argentine border and entered Brazilian territory and arrived at the Elephant Sanctuary in Brazil, where she will have a new life with others of her kind, in an area of 1500 hectares in Mato Grosso.
Kenya leaving the transfer box[/caption>
Her transfer marks a milestone for the staff of the Ecoparque de Mendoza and Argentina, as the preparation process began in 2017 with training to obtain her cooperation for veterinary check-ups and sample collection for the International Veterinary Certificate, as well as to face the journey with the minimum possible stress.
A new life for Kenya
“We are all very excited. Ignacio shared every moment of the journey. It is a huge joy to see how we are progressing in this paradigm shift. We do not want any animal to go through what Kenya experienced.
The Ecoparque must be, as it always should have been, a space for rehabilitation and respect for wildlife,” said Minister Jimena Latorre.
“After 3,600 kilometers, months of training, years of planning. A world of possibilities opens up for her: Kenya will be able to be with others of her species, smell wet and fresh grass, scratch against a tree, and move freely,” said Ignacio Haudet, director of Biodiversity and Ecoparque, who accompanied the animal throughout the journey.
A new life in the Brazil Sanctuary[/caption>
“For us, it is a mission accomplished and a huge joy because it means we did it. I am very grateful for the support of each of the authorities who have also been following and accompanying this transfer. I believe it reflects how the Government as a whole is working together for common causes,” he added.
“We will continue working for the rest of the animals that we have left in the Ecoparque, but also for the animals that are in the wild in our province and working to preserve our biodiversity,” Haudet concluded.
When the Mendoza zoo arrived
Kenya is 44 years old and arrived in Mendoza through an exchange in 1985 through an agreement with the German zoo Tierpark Hagenbeck. She was born in 1981 and arrived at the former zoo at only 4 years old.
Kenya in her first moments of her new life[/caption>
“Today Kenya has the opportunity to start a life in this natural setting where she will be able to live for the first time with other elephants of her own species. What is happening today is very important not only for Mendoza, but also for the country because in a way we are concluding a 136-year historical cycle of elephant captivity in Argentina,” said Leandro Fruitos, advisor to the Biodiversity and Ecoparque Directorate on behalf of the Franz Weber Foundation.
The journey after arduous training
The elephant traveled in a container specially designed for her species, in compliance with CITES international regulations, which provide strict guidelines for the transport of live animals.
During the transfer, only three people had direct contact with the elephant, as the priority was for her to be calm and feel accompanied: Scott Blais, founder of the sanctuary; expert veterinarian Trish London; and Kenya’s trainer at the Ecoparque, Marcos Flores.
For this journey to be possible, there was arduous work over 7 years with the elephant, which included health analyses, national and international permits, agreements, and training by the Biodiversity and Ecoparque Directorate, with the collaboration of the Elephant Sanctuary in Brazil and the Franz Weber Foundation.
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