Buenos Aires, Argentina (AP) – Pupy The Elephant arrived in his new house in a sanctuary in Mato Grosso, Brazil, Friday after 2,700 kilometers (1,680 miles) Earth’s trip from a zoo Converted to an ecological park in the Argentine capital where she had spent 30 years under conditions criticized by activists.
The office of the mayor of Buenos Aires said in a statement that the last elephant living in “Ecopark” of the Argentine city had reached its destination in the Amazon forest of Brazil “in perfect health”.
An African elephant female named Pupy is affected by an Ecoparch worker in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday March 25, 2025, while she is formed for her relocation to a sanctuary in Brazil. (AP photo / Natacha Pisarenko)
The 35 -year -old African elephant was transported to a large iron box with thick bars attached to a truck, a mission for which she had been formed for several months. The truck was flanked by vans filled with guards and veterinarians.
Pupy (pronounced Pooh’-pEe in Spanish) did not require sedation during the five-day trip to the elephant sanctuary, the first refuge for elephants in Latin America located in the municipality of Chapadas dos Guimarães in the Mato raw state, the Argentinian authorities announced.
When he arrived at the sanctuary, his veterinary escorts opened the door to him, but the pupy was reluctant to leave the iron crate. They said they had fed his sugar cane and his watermelon, his favorite food, and gave him a bath to refresh her.
Pupy will remain in an outdoor hangar while it starts to adapt to its new house, without rushing.
“Everything will happen at his own pace,” said the office of the mayor of Buenos Aires.
In 2016, Buenos Aires launched the transformation of its centenary urban zoo in the Palermo district into an ecological park for the preservation of biodiversity and the conservation of native species.
As part of this process, more than 1,000 animals – including lions, tigers, bears and monkeys – have been moved to other countries where they enjoy better living conditions. An emblematic case was that of Orang-Outan SandraWho now lives at the Great Ape Center in Wauchula, Florida, where she adapted and has friends of her own species.
Pupy, who arrived at the Palermo Zoo in 1993, is the last animal transferred from the Ecological Park of Buenos Aires.
The sanctuary of Brazilian elephants is already five Asian elephants – Including Mara, an old circus elephant This was also found within the Argentine reserve and five years ago made the same trip to the refuge motorway, where it now drops at least 10 kilometers (6 miles) per day.
Pupy will not be gathered with Mara in his new house, “due to the natural differences between the two species,” said officials. “The sanctuary is designed to maintain separate groups, respecting their biological and behavioral needs.”
An African elephant female named Pupy is held in her enclosure at the Ecoparque in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday March 25, 2025, while she is formed for her relocation to a sanctuary in Brazil. (AP photo / Natacha Pisarenko)
Buenos “Ecopark” Buenos will continue to house animals which, due to age or logistical impossibility, cannot be transferred to another habitat.
