(CNN) 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 Tuesday. Posts on the group's Facebook page show that the girls have started to adapt not only to their newfound freedom, but also to each other.

"They are completely thriving," said Scott Blais, the chief executive for Global Sanctuary for Elephants.

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.

Blais said they had no proper fencing or living environment.

Guida was allowed off the chains every once in a while, but that wasn't the case for Maia, Blais said.

"There was a hot wire, and one electric strand between the two, and that was because they wanted the elephants to be able to touch the trunks a little bit, but Maia was always aggressive to Guida," he said.

Since relocating to the new sanctuary, Blais said there have been no signs of aggression between the two elephants.

"Their very first contact they had with each other without a barrier, Guida was a little defensive, a little protective, and after that it was like they have been together, side by side, best buds for 50 years," he said.

"There is a huge need for elephants that are just waiting in line," Blais said.

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.

Maia and Guida's marathon journey to their new home started Sunday in Paraguacu, at the farm where they were chained. They were transported to the sanctuary in individual containers. After two days and almost 1,000 miles, Maia walked free, and Guida was released shortly after.

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.

The land where the sanctuary was built is a former cattle ranch. The area has 2,800 acres and was purchased by the non-profit to house as many as 50 elephants from at-risk conditions in zoos and circuses across Latin America.

The organization relies on private donations and crowdfunding for their efforts. Because of the lack of funding, Maia and Guida have access to only one acre at the moment, but as soon as more funding comes in, Blais said, they expect to continue to develop the area and open up more space for the elephants to roam around.

"It's an exceptionally unique piece of property," he said.

Blais adds the elephants will have plenty of room and ways to be entertained in their new home.

"Springs, creeks, forest, pastures ... just an ideal protective location within an ideal climatic region," he said. </s> Image copyright AP Image caption Asian elephants Guida and Maia arrived at the sanctuary earlier this week

The first elephant sanctuary in Latin America has opened in Brazil to provide a home for an estimated 50 circus animals from across the region.

Guida and Maia, both over 40 years old, are the first residents.

They will be provided with veterinary care and live out their lives in forested areas with pastures.

A US-based group bought the land to give the elephants a refuge as zoos in the region close and more laws prohibit the use of animals in circuses.

Image copyright AP Image caption Guida spent years languishing on a Brazilian farm

Image copyright AP Image caption Maia was also a circus elephant

Image copyright AP Image caption This is the first elephant sanctuary in Latin America

Image copyright AP Image caption Cameras will allow visitors and scientists to observe the animals

Both elephants are thought to have come from Thailand, where they were illegally taken to be used in circus, Brazil's G1 website reports (in Portuguese).

The Global Sanctuary for Elephants bought the land of 2,800 acres, for $1m (£820,000) to be paid over five years.

The area is located in the western state of Mato Grosso.

The first phase of the project will host up to six animals. The sanctuary will not be open for visitors. </s> Park will remain open except for affected enclosure while cause of blaze is investigated

Thirteen monkeys have died in a fire at Woburn safari park in Bedfordshire, believed to have been sparked by a faulty generator.

The blaze started in the patas monkey house within the drive-through enclosure of the park in the early hours of Tuesday. It was spotted by security guards on a routine patrol and three appliances from the Bedfordshire fire brigade attended.

A spokesman for the safari park said: “Devastatingly for everyone at the park, none of the 13 animals could be saved. All other animals within the jungle drive-through enclosure are being monitored, but early signs suggest that they have not been affected.”

The park will remain open but the jungle enclosure will be closed.

The fire comes 10 days after a blaze at London zoo killed an aardvark and four meerkats.

A safari park spokesman, Drew Mullin, told Sky News an initial investigation by the fire service suggested a generator fault was to blame.

“We must now clear up and look after the staff,” he said. “They are devastated. They build up a bond with the animals. We will keep the jungle closed for today, tomorrow and the next few days and then we will make a decision about reopening.”

Bedfordshire fire and rescue service said: “We have concluded that it is likely that the fire started accidentally in a generator.”

A spokesman said its firefighters had gone to the safari park at 2.37am and found the patas monkey house ablaze with its roof fallen in. They spent more than two hours at the scene before the incident was declared closed at 4.46am. The building was 90% damaged by the fire.

Patas monkeys, also known as hussar monkeys, are found in the open grasslands of central Africa. They have long limbs and their back legs are so powerful that they can reach speeds of up to 35mph (56km/h), making them the fastest primates in the world.

According to the safari park’s website, the monkeys had 6.5 hectares (16 acres) in which to roam but were confined to their house at night-time during the winter.

The Captive Animals’ Protection Society said the fire showed the dangers animals were exposed to in zoos.

Nicola O’Brien, a campaign manager for the charity, said: “It’s just one of the risks of having animals trapped in cages. It must have been an absolutely horrific death for them. Obviously accidents do happen, but we do think it calls into question the whole point of why we place animals in captivity in the first place.

“You’re taking animals and putting them in an unnatural environment which risks their welfare. When a fire happens [in captivity] there’s nothing they can do. Patas monkeys are a species that in the wild could react very fast.”

London zoo’s annual stock take was due to take place on Tuesday, but it said it had been postponed as a result of last month’s blaze. The annual count will now take place next month, as will that at Whipsnade zoo which, like London zoo, is owned by ZSL (Zoological Society of London).

The fire at London zoo broke out at about 6am on 23 December in the animal adventure section, destroying a cafe, shop and about half of the adjacent petting zoo. It reopened to visitors the next day. </s> Image caption The zoo includes enclosures for Malaysian tigers and Bengal tigers

A zookeeper has died in a "freak accident" after a tiger entered an enclosure at a wildlife park.

The death happened at Hamerton Zoo Park, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, at about 11:15 BST.

Cambridgeshire Police said: "A tiger had entered an enclosure with a keeper. Sadly the female zoo keeper died at the scene."

Visitors were led away from the zoo. At no time did the animal escape from the enclosure, said police.

Officers investigating the death said it "is not believed to be suspicious".

Image copyright Heidi Maury Image caption An air ambulance landed at the wildlife park but there were no other injuries

Hamerton Zoo Park said in a statement: "This appears to have been a freak accident.

"At no point during the incident did any animals escape their enclosures and at no point was public safety affected in any way.

"All our thoughts and sympathies are with our colleagues, friends and families at this dreadful time.

"The park will be closed from tomorrow 30th May, and we will give more information as soon as we can."

An investigation is under way, the zoo said.

Image caption A new tiger enclosure opened at the zoo last summer

A visitor to the zoo, who does not wish to be named, told the BBC: "We got to the zoo at opening time, around 11:45.

"We were close to the tiger enclosure when a member of staff shouted for everyone to leave the park quickly and immediately."

Hamerton Zoo Park

The wildlife park opened in June 1990 and covers some 25 acres.

It includes enclosures for Malayan tigers, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, wolves, corsac foxes, kangaroos as well as a variety of birds, reptiles and domestic animals.

The zoo opened a new enclosure for its Malayan tigers in July last year.

In October 2008 a cheetah which escaped from the park was found by a nine-year-old boy in the back garden of his family home.

Another visitor said: "I was taking pictures of the leopards. The parrots were flying and squeaking and going berserk.

"Then staff were running towards the tigers and lions area. We were all told to leave the park. But after 20 minutes everyone was allowed back in.

"Staff asked us to leave again. They're not saying what happened. However, they were great. They were calm, just doing their job."

Visitor Jeff Knott, 32, from Cambridgeshire, said staff had been "a real credit" to the zoo during the evacuation.

"Staff were very calm and professional," he said.

"All visitors around us were leaving in a very calm manner - no running, shouting or anything similar." </s> An elephant died and several others ended up loose on a Spanish motorway after the circus lorry they were in overturned today.

Police had to close the A30 in Pozo Canada near Albacete south east of Madrid after the extraordinary crash.

Motorists filmed the animals strolling towards waste ground and feeding by the side of the road.

The dead animal was removed from a ditch by the side of the motorway where its body ended up following the drama around 4pm.

Police released pictures of the elephants appearing to feed on grass by crash barriers before being led to a safer area.

They revealed, in a tweet which they probably never thought they would have to write and is unlikely to be repeated: 'The A30 has been closed because a lorry has overturned. Elephants are loose on the tarmac.

'The motorway has been closed around the Pozo Canada area heading towards Murcia.'

Spain's Road Safety Authority the DGT confirmed one of the elephants had died in the incident.

Four other animals, who like the lorry driver escaped with their lives, were travelling in the vehicle.

Two of the four-legged survivors are said to have suffered injuries although it was not immediately clear how serious they were.

DGT spokesman Gregorio Serrano said: 'The elephants injured in the accident that has happened in Albacete are being assisted and removed.

'Of the five animals one has died and two have been injured.

'Shortly the A30 will be reopened.'

One stunned motorist, who filmed the animals wandering around on the tarmac seconds after the accident, said in a running commentary over his home-made video: 'Accident on the A30 motorway near Albacete.

'A circus lorry has overturned. Four elephants are loose and one looks in a very bad way. I'm not sure if it's dead or not.'

Silvia Barquero, the president of Spanish animal welfare political party PACMA, said the animals belonged to the Gottani Circus, which has performed several shows in the area over Easter.

She tweeted: 'The lorry that has overturned was carrying Circo Gottani elephants. Show them more kindness.

'We treat animals like slaves. Enough of circuses that use animals.'

There was no immediate response from the circus owners.

The accident is believed to have happened after the HGV they were in overtook another vehicle and the driver lost control as he headed back into the slow lane.

Civil Guard officers will now send a report on the accident to a local investigating judge who will be tasked with a routine probe into the incident </s> There was continued outrage among animal rights organizations in Spain on Tuesday after a circus truck carrying five elephants overturned on a highway in the southeast part of the country, killing one animal and injuring two.

The accident took place Monday afternoon near the city of Albacete, about 164 miles south of Madrid. Images of the placid animals standing bloodied and bruised by the side of the road sparked widespread anger.

"The elephant victims of the brutal accident yesterday spent the night outside. We are working against the clock to make sure the elephants don't return to Circo Gottani," said Spain's Animal Rights Party (PACMA) on Tuesday, making reference to the Gottani Circus to which the animals allegedly belong.

The tragic events were met with widespread condemnation by other animal rights groups such as PETA.

Spain is one of the last European nations where wild animals are not prohibited from circus use, although many local bans are in effect. </s> The elephant population in Africa can hopefully look forward to a safer 2017. China has announced it will phase out domestic ivory trade by the end of 2017, a move that conservationists are hoping will also put an end to the large-scale elephant poaching in Africa.

In what is being called a "game-changer", China's State Council announced the details of the ban on 30 December. According to the plan, commercial processing and sale of ivory will come to a halt by 31 March, and there will be a phasing out of all registered traders.

The country has been under international pressure to stymie the legal sale of products made from elephants' tusks and while it decided to end ivory trade in 2015, the timeline is a step forward in making it a reality.

"China's announcement is a game changer for elephant conservation," Carter Roberts, the president and chief executive of the World Wildlife Fund, said in a statement. "With the United States also ending its domestic ivory trade earlier this year, two of the largest ivory markets have taken action that will reverberate around the world."

Lo Sze Ping, CEO of WWF-China, added: "WWF applauds China's decision to ban its domestic ivory trade so swiftly, underlining the government's determination and strong leadership to reduce demand for ivory and help save Africa's elephants.

"Closing the world's largest legal ivory market will deter people in China and beyond from buying ivory and make it harder for ivory traffickers to sell their illegal stocks."

Ivory trade was banned internationally in 1989, but a loophole allowed southern African countries to hold occasional legal sales of their ivory stockpiles. In 2008, China was given permission by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to buy ivory legally from several southern African countries. Despite measures to restrict the sale to stockpiles, the black market for tusks rocketed.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 elephants have been killed in Africa alone over the past 10 years and one tusker is killed every 26 minutes on an average.

Elly Pepper, deputy director of wildlife trade for the Natural Resources Defense Council celebrated the global significance of the announcement.

"Setting such an aggressive timeline to close — once and for all — the largest domestic ivory market in the world is globally significant.

"It's a game changer and could be the pivotal turning point that brings elephants back from the brink of extinction," she said. </s> A zoo has been evacuated due to what police have called a "serious incident".

Visitors were led away from Hamerton Zoo Park, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, at about 11:15 BST.

A spokeswoman for the attraction denied claims on social media that a tiger had escaped from its enclosure.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that no animals have escaped and members of the public are safe."

She continued: "Officers were called at around 11.15am to reports of a serious incident at Hamerton Zoo Park, Steeple Gidding.

"Officers attended the scene along with ambulance crews and Magpas (Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service - air ambulance).

"We are unable to provide further information at this time."

A Magpas spokesman said: "At 11:34am today, the air ambulance landed in a public place near Sawtry in Cambridgeshire, after the Magpas enhanced medical team were called to a very serious incident.

"An East of England Ambulance Service paramedic crew and two rapid response vehicles were also in attendance, alongside the police."

The zoo said it will remained closed for the day and a full statement will be issued later.

Hamerton Zoo Park opened in June 1990 and covers some 25 acres.

It includes enclosures for Malaysian tigers, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, wolves, corsac foxes, kangaroos as well as a variety of birds, reptiles and domestic animals.

The zoo opened a new enclosure for its Malaysian tigers in July last year.

In October 2008 a cheetah which escaped from the park was found by a nine-year-old boy. in the back garden of his family home.

It was thought to have got out through a faulty electric fence.

Were you at the zoo when the incident happened? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
• Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) </s> Brasilia: The Brazilian government has abolished a vast national reserve in the Amazon rainforest to open up the area to mining despite strong opposition from environmental activists, the media reported on Thursday.

President Michel Temer on Wednesday signed a decree which abolished the protected area known as the National Reserve of Copper and Associates (Renca), reports the BBC.

The area, covering 46,000 sq.km., comprises the northern states of Amapa and Para, and is thought to be rich in gold and other minerals.

The decree said nine conservation and indigenous land areas within it would continue to be legally protected.

"The objective of the measure is to attract new investments, generating wealth for the country and employment and income for society, always based on the precepts of sustainability," the ministry said in a statement.

Its size is larger than Denmark and about 30 per cent of it will be open to mining.

But Maurício Voivodic, head of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Brazil, warned that mining in the area would lead to "demographic explosion, deforestation, the destruction of water resources, the loss of biodiversity and the creation of land conflict", the BBC reported.

According to a WWF report, the main area of interest for copper and gold exploration is in one of the protected areas, the Biological Reserve of Maicuru.

There is also said to be gold in the Para State forest, which lies within the area.

The statement said that there was a potential for conflict too in two indigenous reserves that are home to various ethnic communities living in relative isolation.

WWF`s report said than a "gold rush in the region could create irreversible damage to these cultures".

"If the government insisted on opening up these areas for mining without discussing environmental safeguards it will have to deal with an international outcry."
A wildlife sanctuary for rescued elephants opens in Brazil.