Elephant Sandro begins adaptation at Mato Grosso sanctuary

Sandro, a 54-year-old elephant, has begun his adaptation process at the Santuário de Elefantes Brasil (SEB) in Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso. The elephant arrived at the sanctuary following a complex 48-hour logistical operation, traveling approximately 1,600 kilometers from the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoo in Sorocaba, São Paulo.

During his first weekend at the sanctuary, Sandro has shown signs of exploring his new environment. While he has used the provided shelter, monitoring cameras show he has preferred to spend nights outdoors in the native vegetation. The sanctuary team reports that he is eating normally, drinking plenty of water, and utilizing mud areas.

Veterinary teams are currently monitoring Sandro for potential health issues. Initial assessments have identified gait asymmetries and signs of possible osteoarticular changes, as well as lesions on his toes. To avoid invasive sedation, specialists plan to use positive reinforcement conditioning to gradually habituate him to physical exams, X-rays, and medical sampling. With Sandro's arrival, the sanctuary now houses seven elephants.