Brazil has opened up the first sanctuary in Latin America for elephants previously in captivity, an idyllic retreat that could eventually house as many as 50 of the giant animals. Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, in the central Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, was founded by the US-based non-profit organization Global Sanctuary for Elephants, and it already has its first two residents.

• Maia and Guida, two elephants that spent the past four decades in captivity, arrived at the sanctuary.Maia and Guida spent the past 40 years with a circus in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
• For the past half-decade they were attached to 15-foot chains on a farm owned by the lawyer for the circus.
• Global Sanctuary for Elephants settled on Brazil because there was a grassroots effort to get the sanctuary started and volunteers ready to assist.
• In Brazil there is a lot of support for protecting the future of former circus elephants, the group says, and great public awareness of the issues surrounding the animals.
• The sanctuary’s next resident could be Ramba, an elephant currently living in Chile.
• There are a few other elephants also in Brazil that are on the list for the sanctuary. The next resident could arrive as soon as early next year.