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One recent afternoon, Rana, Mara, and Bambi were in Yard 1 by the barn, while Guillermina was having part of her yearly exam done in the neighboring yard. Mara was standing at the water trough giving herself a drink and, since it was warm, we decided to turn on the elephant shower to see if she would enjoy some effort-free bathing. Mara clearly appreciated it and relaxed while allowing the water to run down over her ears, occasionally opening her mouth to swallow some as well. 

Bambi was about 10 yards away looking interested, so we used the hose attached to the shower setup to give her a bath as well. After a moment, Rana – who was grazing nearby – realized that everyone else was getting a turn in the water, so she squeezed herself between the two other girls for her own shower. 

This was one of those lovely occasions for caregivers to be able to pamper the elephants a bit and just sit back and watch them enjoy themselves. Because it was annual check-up time for the girls, all hands were on deck at the elephant care facility. That meant that individuals – like Kat and Trish – who rarely get to appreciate such laid-back moments got to enjoy some special time with the elephants together. Each elephant got her very own personalized bath and attention from an individual caregiver: Mara with Trish, Bambi with Kat, and Rana with Scott.