Blog

It’s been a while since we had an up-close video with Rana and Mara, and their caregivers took the opportunity for a quick peek when the girls arrived at the fence recently after breakfast. The two elephants often come to the barn or annex once they are done eating, just about the time when their treatments roll around. Rana has daily foot care while Mara gets checked on twice a week unless something pops up. Both get extra treats whether they are involved in treatment or not–so they’re almost always ready to go when it’s time for them to visit their care team for a session. Rana can be persistent when it comes to trying to convince someone near the fence to give her extra snacks, and she doesn’t mind offering her wide-open mouth as a gentle suggestion.

Here, Mara is the one who reaches out to us, likely in hopes of a few extra pieces of fruit or a little affection. She’s very gentle about it and isn’t persistent or pushy with her request. Both Rana and Mara seem sleepy, which isn’t uncommon after breakfast. The camera was able to capture both elephants’ stunning faces, even if they do seem a little drowsy. You can see Mara’s distinctive golden eyes, which are among the most unique we’ve ever seen. Sometimes, when Mara looks at you, you get a sense of how smart she is, as she closely examines  everything going on around her. Rana’s brown eyes ask you to show her you truly see her, and when she understands that you do, her face will soften into tenderness. We invite you to relax and listen to the swish of their ears flapping; it’s a soft and gentle sound, and hearing it is a simple pleasure. 

P.S.: Rana may now be one of the calmest elephants at the sanctuary, but that hasn’t always been her story. All of the girls here have followed complex paths to get where they are today, and those journeys have taught us much about what it means to heal. To hear a little of Rana’s story, plus revisit some of the other miraculous transformations we’ve seen at ESB, take a few moments to watch our recent TEDx talk – and share it – and celebrate the opportunities for self-discovery that sanctuary provides.