We’ve talked a bit lately about not having Rana’s squeaks on video. There are a couple of ways our attempts fail greatly. Sometimes, after her first squeak, we’ll start recording on our phones and then she gets very quiet. This is somewhat common with elephants and why sometimes we can only tell you about something that happened with them instead of showing it. We know if we pull out the phone, they’ll stop. And other times it’s why you hear us being silly in videos, because if we just sit back and record, they stop.
This is another type of failed attempt. We tried to record at a time that she usually squeaks. We had been waiting for a bit, so began talking, and of course she squeaks. The angle didn’t show her very well anyway, so we went to switch sides. Of course that’s when she chose to squeak, when the camera isn’t on her. There are many videos in our collection of the ground where you hear Rana squeak off-screen.
We could set up a camera during her treatment, but it will either be like the treatment video we already posted of her squeaking, where you are essentially watching her backside. From the side isn’t great either, since you don’t see much because she is behind a training wall. It’s not possible to set one up in front of her for two reasons, one, she has access out of the barn and if she goes to leave to check out the camera, we aren’t going to stop her. And that will be the end of that. Two, because sometimes Maia and Guida are also in the area, leaving the camera to once again become a snack or toy.
Rana could actually be trained to squeak on command. She enjoys her training and is a fast learner, so it would be easy. But we want her squeaks to be a free expression of her emotions, so this is something we would never do. It would take away the best part of it all- that she is sharing her joy/silliness through her vocalizations.
We will continue to try to get decent video and continue to fail, just know it’s not because we don’t want to share her cuteness or that she doesn’t squeak much, because she does pretty much every day. Getting it on film in a safe manner is the problem. 
April 26, 2019
RELATED LINKS
Rana’s Page →
Rana Squeaks! (1/7/19) →
Comments(3) 
Maggie says
April 27, 2019 at 4:10 amI think she’s playing a game with you. She knows exactly what you’re trying to do.???
She’s beautiful, what were you saying about the colour of her face Kat?
Kat Blais says
April 27, 2019 at 12:12 pmShe had splashed a bit before coming in and then dusted herself in the barn, so she had fresh loose orange dirt on her face- just mentioning how pretty she looked. 🙂
Debbie Sides says
April 28, 2019 at 11:23 amShe is an absolute joy! Such a happy girl! I feel like I’m right there with you. I can only imagine the feeling of actually being there with magnificent beings. Lots of love to you all from South Carolina!
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