There is a magical place for rescued elephants in South America called Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (7) which currently provides a home for five “happy residents” (6) Maia, Rana, Mara, Bambi and Guillermina .
One wouldn’t think the setting could be more idyllic but for a towering copaiba tree affectionately known as “The Lollipop Tree”. It first attracted co-founders Scott and Katherine Blais to the property when they were scouting a suitable haven in central Brazil (Chapada dos Guimarães) for former circus/zoo elephants.
Native to Brazil, among other South American countries, (13) copaiba trees are largely found in the Amazon rainforest. They contain an oleoresin that humans can gain healing properties from. (14) As for elephants, since the species are not native to South America there have been no associations between elephants and the copaiba tree.
Image: by wiki media commons, “Copaifera officinalis, the copaiba balsam, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae native to … Brazil …” (5)
Image: cc flickr by Agência Brasília copaibo tree seedlings at a community nursery in Brazil
Image: cc flickr by danilogessinger20 full copyright respected a copaibo tree in Brazil much more golden similar to the original lollipop tree at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil
The copaiba tree is more whimsical, the sight of which one would more likely expect in Africa (1), than practical in nature for the ESB elephants, in that they take shade under its canopy and enjoy snacking* around it, but do not seem to take to it for any sustenance as, say, a wild African elephant takes to a marula .
Besides these girls, all female Asian elephants at the moment, though all born in the wild – with the exception of Maia where details of her origin are unknown and Guillermina who was born in captivity at the Mendoza Zoo- were never able to live in the wild, properly, as elephants, thus stifling their natural behaviors for foraging for food even in a sanctuary setting.
Source (24)
Today “The Lollipop Tree,” (watch video source 1) in Yard 3, is a sight to behold, especially in its full flowered glory; alas, that only lasts “for perhaps 3 days”… right “before the rainy season begins”. (1)
Image: cc flickr by vascopreto full copyright respected a copaibo tree in Brazil although not yet golden like the original lollipop tree at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil
Maybe these sweet elephants are drawn to “the Lollipop Tree” for the healing properties they receive from that golden glow that shines amongst them, not from the sunbeam high above them but from the round, leafy, towering structure that is shaped like a lollipop (1), the copaiba tree. Just basking in the glow of “The Lollipop Tree” and and taking in the peacefulness they find at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.
Image: elephants finding shade under a tree at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil
Elephant Sanctuary Brazil Elephants
Rana former “hotel zoo” elephant (9)
Bambi former circus then zoo elephant (11)
Mara former circus then zoo elephant (10) “the three of them have formed a tight-knit group we lovingly call the “Powerpuff Girls.” Mara, Bambi, and Rana spend hours of each day together…”
Maia former circus elephant (8)
Guillermina former zoo elephant (12)
Image: Mara, Rana, Bambi, left to right at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video Bambi Elefanta from Zoo to Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Brazil By cd3k cd3k_
Image: Maia, Mara & Rana at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (elephants probably not named in correct order)
Image: Bambi at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video “Bambi Elefanta, from Zoo to Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Brazil” By cd3k cd3k_
Image: Guillermina at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video Guille Is On the Move by Global Sanctuary for Elephants
DONATE to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (23) https://secure.globalelephants.org/forms/general-donate-button
*Browse is certainly a fine snack for elephants consisting of “Grasses, Leaves, Twigs, Bark, Roots, Vines, Shoots & Fruits” (15)
See next: Elephants and Trees Part 4: Trees Provide More Than a Canopy For Elephants: Mopane Trees
See the real “Lollipop Tree” video “Snacking Under ‘The Lollipop Tree’” at Global Sanctuary For Elephants/Elephant Sanctuary Brazil source (1)
Images: cc flickr by vascopreto, full copyright respected, a copaiba tree in Brazil although not yet golden like the original lollipop tree at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (2); by danilogessinger20, full copyright respected, a copaiba tree in Brazil much more golden similar to the original lollipop tree at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (3); by Agência Brasília, copaiba tree seedlings at a community nursery in Brazil (4) & by wiki media commons, “Copaifera officinalis, the copaiba balsam, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae native to … Brazil …” (5) (6); elephant & the setting sun at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (17); elephants finding shade under a tree at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (18) Maia, Mara & Rana at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video “Maia Shares Space With Mara and Rana” (19) Bambi at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video “Bambi Elefanta, from Zoo to Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Brazil” By cd3k cd3k_ (20) Mara, Rana, Bambi, left to right at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video “Bambi Elefanta, from Zoo to Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Brazil” By cd3k cd3k_ (21) Guillermina at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video Guille Is On the Move by Global Sanctuary for Elephants (22)
Sources:
(1) https://globalelephants.org/the-lollipop-tree-flowers/
(2) https://www.flickr.com/photos/silviopretoquiri-go/15148146588/sizes/c/
(3) https://www.flickr.com/photos/danilogessinger20/5202075271/sizes/z/
(4) https://www.flickr.com/photos/agenciabrasilia/23558564045/sizes/c/
(5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copaifera_officinalis
(6) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Copaifera_officinalis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-047.jpg
(7) https://globalelephants.org/overview/
(8) https://globalelephants.org/maia/
https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=11397 MAIA details oh her birth are unknown
(9) https://globalelephants.org/rana/
https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=12826 RANA wild born 1975
(10) https://globalelephants.org/mara/
https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=631 MARA wild born 1969
(11) https://globalelephants.org/bambi/
https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=12825 BAMBI wild born 1968
(12) https://globalelephants.org/guillermina/
https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3395 GUILLERMINA captive born 19 Nov 1998 Mendoza Zoo
Guillermina’s parents Tami/Tamy (awaiting rescue at Mendoza Zoo) https://globalelephants.org/tamy-2/
https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3394 TAMI wild born 1970
& Pocha (rescued with her daughter Guillermina from Mendoza Zoo; sadly Pocha died at ESB https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=637 POCHA
(13) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/discover-the-majestic-copaiba-trees–457467274653809033/
(14) Interesting & Informative Video on the Healing Properties of Copaiba for Humans “Copaiba| Essential-Oil-Plant Portrait by Dr. Malte Hozzel By Oshadhi” https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ydl16ACuwQc
(15) What Do Elephants Eat? By Hal Brindley https://www.travel4wildlife.com/what-do-elephants-eat/
(16) https://globalelephants.org/overview/
(17) from cc video “First steps to freedom for the lovely sanctuary ladies” by Global Sanctuary For Elephants https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+sanctuary+brazil+creative+commons
(18) from cc video “First steps to freedom for the lovely sanctuary ladies” by Global Sanctuary For Elephants https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+sanctuary+brazil+creative+commons
(19) Maia, Mara & Rana at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video “Maia Shares Space With Mara and Rana” https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+sanctuary+brazil+creative+commons
(20) Bambi at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video “Bambi Elefanta, from Zoo to Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Brazil” By cd3k cd3k_ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+sanctuary+brazil+creative+commons
(21) Mara, Rana, Bambi, left to right at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video “Bambi Elefanta, from Zoo to Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Brazil” By cd3k cd3k_ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+sanctuary+brazil+creative+commons
(22) Guillermina at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil from cc video Guille Is On the Move by Global Sanctuary for Elephants yt ch https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+sanctuary+brazil+guillermina+creative+commons
(23) https://secure.globalelephants.org/forms/general-donate-button
(24) “This Morning, At Elephant Sanctuary Brazil” by Global Sanctuary for Elephants yt ch (drone footage shows 20% of the sanctuary incl Yard 4 & Yard 5) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+sanctuary+brazil+creative+commons
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Image: elephant & the setting sun at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil
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