Sandro the Elephant, one of Sorocaba’s symbols, left the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoo on Wednesday (16) after more than four decades there. At age 54, the animal headed to the Brazil Elephant Sanctuary (SEB) in the Mato Grosso municipality of Chapada dos Guimarães, following a long legal battle over his future.
Born in Asia, Sandro was captured as a calf and taken to a Brazilian circus. During his “adolescence,” he was rescued by the Sorocaba Zoo, where he has lived since 1982. Generations of Sorocaba residents have followed the elephant’s daily life, and he has become an honorary citizen of the São Paulo countryside.
Learn about the case of Sandro the elephant
The dispute over Sandro’s fate began in 2020, following the death of Haisa, his only enclosure mate for approximately 20 years. The São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office advocated for his transfer to the SEB and took the case to court, arguing that the 1,200-hectare sanctuary would offer better conditions for the animal’s twilight years.
The legal proceedings dragged on for years, involving expert evaluations, rulings, and appeals. In June 2026, the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) authorized his transfer to the sanctuary in Mato Grosso. The Sorocaba City Government challenged the decision, presenting an expert evaluation proving that Sandro was in good health and receiving adequate care at the zoo.
In addition, experts warned that the 1,600-kilometer overland trip to the SEB would pose risks for an elderly animal. However, the court’s decision prevailed and allowed the transfer to proceed.
The Farewell and the Arrival at His New Home
Sandro left Sorocaba in a 10-metric-ton metal crate, measuring 5 meters long, 3.5 meters high, and 2.5 meters wide. Before the trip, he went through an acclimation period during which the crate was left in his enclosure so he could enter it voluntarily.
Zookeepers at the Sorocaba Zoo were moved as they watched Sandro depart after four decades at the facility. He began his journey amid protests by Sorocaba residents, who tried to block the truck’s exit and were restrained by the police.
The trip took two and a half days, with stops for feeding, hydration, and monitoring the animal. Finally, Sandro arrived at the Brazil Elephant Sanctuary on Friday (18) around 1:00 p.m. and is beginning to adjust to his new home.
Sandro is the first male to be taken in by SEB, where six females live: Bambi, Guillermina, Mara, Maia, Rana, and Baby. Since the sanctuary does not allow breeding, he will stay in a separate area but will be able to see and communicate with the female elephants through the fence.
Now, Sandro the elephant is beginning a new chapter away from the public eye. Although physically far from Sorocaba, he lives on in the history and memories of the people of São Paulo, who can follow his new adventures on the website or social media pages of the Santuário de Elefantes Brasil.
