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Bambi is also doing her best to be a guide for Guillermina as she integrates into the herd. Guille’s behavior isn’t always appropriate and Bambi seems to feel she needs to be more serious around her to set the tone. Bambi learned in her own way that boundaries are important and seems to be trying to impart that message to Guillermina – sometimes using gentle physical guidance and other times by presenting a more deliberate approach to situations. In spite of herself, she still has a fun-loving part of herself that wants to shine through. 

Guille is testing Bambi’s limits, but in a lighthearted way. If Bambi is being serious, Guillermina might start playing as a way to feel out Bambi’s mood. Bambi put her trunk over Guillermina recently, as a way to encourage her to calm down and Guille decided to push into Bambi’s trunk. It wasn’t aggressive, but she was actually moving her head from side-to-side so she was getting a scratch from Bambi. She was making a game out of what was meant to be a lesson. For about five minutes, Guille was egging Bambi on just a little, trying to find ways to get Bambi to play. In the end, Bambi just gave up and walked away.

It remains to be seen how Bambi will move forward with Guillermina. She seems to understand her role as a guide in the relationship-building process. But some part of Bambi may be looking for another energetic elephant to spend time with – once Guillermina has learned a few more manners. Perhaps Guille is encouraging Bambi to break through the more pensive parts of her personality and let the lighter side shine through more often. 

Photo of a playful Bambi enjoying her food