Global Rumblings Podcast

Episode 66: Accusations, Manipulations & False Claims

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Nadia Mari (A)
Guests: Kat Blais (B) and Scott Blais (C), Co-founders of Global Sanctuary for Elephants

Main Theme

This episode dives into the aftermath at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (ESB) following the recent deaths of elephants Kenya and Pupi. The conversation focuses on the temporary suspension of the sanctuary's license, the broader anti-sanctuary movement, manipulation and spread of misinformation, and the call for fair, evidence-based scrutiny of all elephant holding facilities in Brazil. It’s a frank, passionate discussion about animal welfare, accountability, and the reality of sanctuary care for aged and ailing elephants.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Updates and Fundraising Milestone ([01:39]–[03:17])

• Despite recent losses and turmoil, the sanctuary achieved nearly their $300,000 fundraising goal for habitat expansion.
  • Kat: “We ended up raising, as of now, $296,490, which is very close to our goal. So, it may be in reality that we just make our goal, which is lovely.” [02:30]
  • Scott: “It's a brilliant, brilliant sum, it's a brilliant response and... just goes to show how people are coming out of everywhere to help support positive change.” [02:58]

2. The Aftermath of Elephant Deaths: Misinformation and License Suspension ([03:17]–[09:26])

• Kenya and Pupi, both with extensive histories of neglect, died within months of arrival; triggered negative scrutiny.
• The "anti-sanctuary machinery" responded forcefully, spreading misinformation and pushing for administrative action.
  • Scott: “What we're dealing with is this bureaucratic chaos... we are being negatively affected by a very sad state of our social world where the false negative narrative is believed full heartedly...” [04:03]
• Ongoing anti-sanctuary campaigns have included fabricating stories (e.g., fake claims of Mara's death).
  • Kat: “[One group] said Mara was dead... They doctored a photo of an elephant who had been electrocuted in India... to say that was Mara.” [06:03]
• Regulatory actions: Sanctuary’s license for receiving new animals is temporarily suspended for 60 days while an investigation is conducted; current operations for existing elephants and wildlife rehabilitation continue. Actual animal care remains unchanged.
  • Scott: “It just is that we cannot receive new animals. It's only temporary... not at the end of the day, it's not that big a deal... we're just going to use this as a platform to try to promote more positive good.” [08:28]

3. Uneven Accountability: Scrutiny of Sanctuaries vs. Zoos ([09:26]–[15:07])

• The hosts highlight that sanctuaries often receive animals in poor health, yet are held to higher scrutiny than the previous facilities, which often evade accountability.
• Elephants arrive aged, medically neglected, or obese—a reality ignored by anti-sanctuary critics.
  • Kat: “Animals come to sanctuary and they die... It is a retirement home for elephants that have received zero care essentially for their entire lives... We don't get young, healthy animals at sanctuaries.” [10:33]
• Widespread denial in zoos about health status; lack of medical records, proper diets, or foot care.
• Elephants are adept at masking pain and illness, making late-stage health issues appear sudden, though they stem from decades of mistreatment.
  • Scott: “Wild animals... are designed to mask their problems. That's what they do. It's survival... with Kenya, that was part of it.” [13:19]

4. Detailed Post-Mortem Transparency and Misguided Blame ([15:07]–[19:18])

• The sanctuary openly shared necropsy findings for Kenya and Pupi; Kenya had chronic bone infection (osteomyelitis), Pupi had severe lung infection.
• Zoos and their supporters insist these problems develop only at sanctuaries, ignoring medical realities and comprehensive records.
  • Nadia: “It's just ridiculous. Would be like... blaming a care facility for an aged relative who is sick, dying in their care. Because that's what it is. It's hospice. It's palliative care.” [15:07]
  • Scott: “If you can’t provide these species with the most basic of needs, you should actually be happy that there is somewhere that they could go... If you truly cared for these animals...” [16:18]

5. Willingness to Collaborate—But Met with Hostility ([18:56]–[23:41])

• GSE has previously offered help and consultation to zoos, emphasizing cooperation over competition.
  • Kat: “We initially worked with the Brasilia Zoo because they were having issues... If somebody wants help... we are willing to help in some way if that way is not receiving their elephants.” [19:18]
• Investigation: The sanctuary invites investigators but calls for equal scrutiny on zoos, many of which fail to meet even minimal legal standards (space, training, vet care).
  • Scott: “If you do this, let's... do the same investigation where these elephants are coming from. Because many of those facilities don't even meet the minimum standards...” [19:54]

6. Documented Failures in Zoo Elephant Care ([21:04]–[23:41])

• Recent studies confirm that elephant diets in Brazilian zoos are generally “grossly inappropriate,” with some elephants receiving up to 49 kilos of sugarcane daily.
• Even "leading" zoos in Brazil often do not meet basic standards for space or care.

7. Moving from Silence to Advocacy: Fighting for Fair Regulation ([23:41]–[25:27])

• GSE historically avoided public criticism to not jeopardize elephant transfers; now, circumstances force them to speak candidly.
  • Nadia: “You didn't want to jeopardize possible future elephant transfers. But now it has come this far...” [23:51]
• They are not opposing regulation, but demand equal, evidence-based enforcement.
• Petition launched calling for balanced investigation and implementation of existing laws.

8. Refuting False Claims and Detailing Barriers to Proper Elephant Care ([27:38]–[32:44])

• GSE details specific instances when they tried to improve care for elephants in zoos, but were ignored.
  • Kat: “We begged them to put Tammy on medication. We wrote out a whole protocol... None of them were ever followed.” [28:53]
• Many accusations against the sanctuary are based on untruths, distortions, or events GSE had no control over.
• Authorities sometimes act on social media rumors (“the elephants are dead,” water isn't clean), despite regular, government-mandated water testing and transparent care protocols.
  • Scott: “One of the claims was made that the elephants are dying because they're not accustomed to drinking dirty water. It's like, wait a minute, did you know what water Tammy had access to there?” [31:41]

9. Final Reflections, Call to Action, and Resilience ([32:44]–[34:51])

• Petition is promoted as a means to push for clarity, fairness, and equal scrutiny across facilities.
• Despite recent difficulties, the team remains hopeful and motivated by the progress they've seen in their elephants.
  • Scott: “The reality is it will [be good again]... this happens... those who are in fear of people realizing that species like elephants do actually need something like a sanctuary... So they will kick and scream and throw dirt, and that's the way it is... but we still get to go down the hill and look at the beautiful elephants...” [33:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott ([04:03]): “We are being negatively affected by a very sad state of our social world where the false negative narrative is believed full heartedly... There’s a manipulation of the facts and to a negative slant; some of them outright lies.”
• Kat ([06:03]): “They doctored a photo of an elephant who had been electrocuted in India... to say that was Mara.”
• Kat ([10:33]): “We are essentially... a retirement home for elephants that have received zero care essentially for their entire lives.”
• Scott ([13:19]): “With wild animals. They are designed to mask their problems. That's what they do. It's survival, you know, and elephants do this all the time.”
• Kat ([16:18]): “It's going to happen over and over again. It happens with every sanctuary... we have to protect ourselves. It's like, wow, okay, one, that's not what we're about at all.”
• Scott ([19:54]): “If you do this, let's... do the same investigation where these elephants are coming from. Because many of those facilities don't even meet the minimum standards established by Brazilian law.”
• Kat ([28:53]): “We begged them to put Tammy on medication. We wrote out a whole protocol... None of them were ever followed.”
• Scott ([31:41]): “One of the claims was made that the elephants are dying because they're not accustomed to drinking dirty water... Maybe we should have continued with unsanitary water. You know, the problem was clean water.”
• Scott ([33:54]): “...We still get to go down the hill and look at the beautiful elephants that we have and see just how amazingly they're doing right now... it's easy to push it aside, at least for a little while.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:30] – Fundraising success and what it means for sanctuary expansion
• [04:03] – Bureaucratic chaos and anti-sanctuary manipulation after recent elephant deaths
• [06:03] – Notorious false claims (e.g., Mara’s death, doctored photos)
• [08:28] – Details of temporary license suspension and ongoing operation
• [10:33] – The real health condition of elephants upon sanctuary arrival
• [13:19] – How and why elephants mask illness and suffering
• [15:07] – Spotlight on extensive post-mortem transparency
• [19:18] – Outreach to zoos and willingness to help—if they allow it
• [21:04] – Studies confirming poor zoo diets and elephant care standards
• [23:51] – Sanctuary’s decision to speak out publicly
• [28:53] – Barriers faced in advocating for better care in zoos
• [31:41] – Myths perpetuated about sanctuary water, care standards, and emergency protocols
• [32:44] – Final advocacy for equal scrutiny and hope for the future

Conclusion & Call to Action

This episode offers a transparent, sometimes raw perspective on the difficult realities sanctuaries face: not just in caring for elephants with traumatic histories, but in dealing with systemic misinformation and unfair regulatory pressure. Kat and Scott advocate for balanced scrutiny—holding all animal holding facilities to the same standards—and urge listeners to sign a petition for fairness and evidence-based regulation.

Host Nadia’s closing:
“So that's a good last call to action. I will put the petition in the show notes. Please sign and share this petition to get... clarity, fairness, this equal scrutiny, and also possibly force the hand of authorities in Brazil to... implement the laws that are obviously there but are not being adhered to by zoos and other facilities...” [32:44]

Takeaway:
Despite turbulent times and relentless misinformation, sanctuary leaders remain committed to transparency, fairness, and above all, the welfare and dignity of the elephants in their care—and they invite supporters to stand with them.