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Bambi’s Weight Is Going in the Right Direction!

Bambi

The photo speaks for itself, but we want to share a little about Bambi’s weight as well. We know many of you are concerned about her putting on weight, but we also think most people forgot how emaciated she was upon arrival. It’s also difficult to not see her as anything but thin when you see her next to the other girls. Bambi is still underweight, but we are delighted to share the evidence of her weight gain with all of you. For more accurate monitoring, we weighed her several weeks ago and are scheduled to obtain a second weight in another couple of weeks.

We are working on helping Bambi gain weight in a healthy manner. Elephants can be fed high-sugar and high-calorie foods, such as cooked foods and large amounts of sugar cane, to help them gain weight quickly. It effectively allows elephants to gain weight in short periods, but its unnatural and can be very hard on their bodies. With the unknown status of Bambi’s health and her possible kidney issues, we want to make sure she gains weight appropriately. This means she receives standard, nutritious, and healthy meals, just in slightly larger quantities and more often. Like the others, her many hours of grazing each day are supplemented with hay, grains, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

Gaining weight is made slightly more challenging by Bambi’s unbelievable energy levels. It’s hard to put weight on an animal who is always on the move. Maia is the only other elephant here who is that active, but we suspect that Bambi covers more ground than Maia, and Maia has never been thin. 😉

Bambi will be skinny for a while – and, with her long legs and height, she may always appear leaner than our other elephants.  As these photos show, her weight is going in the right direction, so her insatiable appetite and zest for life are paying off.

November 13, 2020

Comments(27)

  1. REPLY
    Patricia Aguilar says

    And look at how her natural beauty is beginning to show. She’s a very good looking elephant.

  2. REPLY
    Lila says

    Great difference! Good going, Bambi!!!

  3. REPLY
    Marc says

    So wonderful to see Bambi is slowly gaining weight in a healthy process. Even her skin condition is amazing from when she first arrived at the sanctuary, ❤️??

  4. REPLY
    SHEILA says

    OH YES! BIG ❤️SWEET ?BAMBI IS ROAMING THE YARDS VERY VERY WELL! SEIZING EACH DAY WITH GUSTO! YES ??SHES LOOKING SO MUCH BETTER YET SHE CAN PUT ON SOME MORE LBS. YES INDEED WHEN U LOOK AT THE ELEPHANTS IN THAILAND THEY EAT PILES OF WATERMELLON AND SUGAR CANE AND ARE VERY OVERWEIGHT BUT BAMBI DOESNT NEED SUGAR A PROBABLE KIDNEY DISEASE ISSUE,⚠️AS LONG AS SHES HAPPY SPRINTING ABOUT, HEALTHY AND HAPPY THATS GREAT‼️ IS BAMBI STILL TALKING WITH RANA AND MARA, AND LADY❓

  5. REPLY
    Christine Strickling says

    Bambi is looking so much better. Keep up the good work.

  6. REPLY
    Jean Tryon says

    Thank you for these comparison photos. What a difference! I agree someone who is generally much more active than most of its species [wo/man or elephant] might bulk up with ‘fast food’. Think of a race by a miler. If they think they will burn off a high carb meal while still maintaining their competition, they probably won’t even medal. Obviously, the same thought can be applied to elephants [including that speed demon Bambi]. Appropriate weight gain is her ‘meal ticket.’

  7. REPLY
    arie says

    Good on you, Bambi, that is excellent news!!
    What a difference! Before, you can count her ribs, the poor girl!

    It is not only the healthy food, but the freedom, space and the natural environment that does the trick.
    And last but absolutely not least, the loving care of the humans, of course. ?❤️

  8. REPLY
    Sue says

    I am seriously going to have to consider putting in a mud wallow somewhere in my back yard ?. I was eagerly waiting for a photo comparison to see how much her skin had improved. The weight gain is so encouraging and impressive, too!! Hoping Miss Mara will soon increase her appetite and start feeling better, too. Thank you – I appreciate you all so much! ❤️?❤️

  9. REPLY
    Laura says

    Such great news! So pleased for Bambi, thankful for all of you.

  10. REPLY
    Debbie Sides says

    Yay Bambi! She looks way better than when she first arrived. She’s such a happy girl!

  11. REPLY
    Kelejan says

    Been looking forward to seeing the before and after pictures of Bambi. She is looking three times better now, and one does forget how saggy looking her skin was. She is so much happier with her new zest for life and I do hope she has many more years with you.

  12. REPLY
    Alana says

    Looks like she is putting muscles on those front legs too. So glad things are going in the right direction for her.

  13. REPLY
    FRANCINE FORD says

    I’m thrilled to hear about Ms Bamtastic’s weight progress. I wonder if you could find a way to put a fit bit on her so you can measure exactly how far she rambles. They are so much like us with calories & weight. Ms Bambi is eating so much better at Sanctuary then she ever has in her whole life; then literally walks all those calories off. Weigh to go Girl!
    ❤?❤?❤?❤?❤?

  14. REPLY
    Ercilia Garcia says

    What was her weight on arrival and what is it now. I’d like to see number also.

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      We did not weight her upon arrival, since we did not have the scale set up. It was a few weeks after. And as we mention in the post, she is on a weighing schedule, and her next weight is in a few weeks. So we don’t have comparative weights at this point.

  15. REPLY
    Julie says

    She literally looks like a different elephant to me. Life was being sucked out of her; now Bambi is full of life and vigor. Love it. Keep it coming!

  16. REPLY
    NISHANT BHAJARIA says

    This is great news!

  17. REPLY
    Terry says

    I am always so proud of you guys and sanctuary life! Even her eye looks better!!!

  18. REPLY
    terry says

    Testing… 123….testing…I have commented daily and have not had one comment go through…no matter. Sanctuary for Bambi and ALL the elephants is what really matters! You guys ROCK!!! Bambi…Bambusca!!!❤

    • REPLY
      EleComposer says

      Hi Terry, thanks so much for your comment (and kind words :). A comment from you was posted yesterday, and we recall reading numerous comments from you in the past (thank you!), so we are at a bit of a loss as to what might be happening. We do have an auto-spam filter, that we have no control over, that may be part of the issue. We have no way of knowing that for sure, however. All Comments, that are not blocked by that filter, are reviewed manually by our team as they come in – but we don’t ever remember not approving any of your comments. We’re so sorry that we don’t have anything definitive to share with you on this, and hope you will persevere as we appreciate hearing from you. Thanks, Terry – have a great weekend.

  19. REPLY
    Beji says

    That girl DOES have some looking legs!!

  20. REPLY
    Rosie P says

    Her overall appearance looks better, too. Her face is brighter. I had wondered how she was going to put on some weight with all that energy she has but there is an obvious positive change from when she first arrived at sanctuary. She is enjoying her new found freedom and that has to be helping her appetite and stress levels. Add all the care she has bestowed on her and you have a recipe for a healthier ellie. I am so happy for her.

  21. REPLY
    Sunny says

    Excellent work guys ?

  22. REPLY
    Carey says

    And do we see increased muscle mass also ? As you say her high energy must burn off calories and with her tall leggy build she may always be slimmer than some. What I think is amazing is how she is alive at all – how did our girl survive the lack of stimulation and lack of walking and interacting which she has been shown to crave? Those who may have cared about her in her previous home must be very surprised and happy at this Bambi that they rarely if ever saw. I’m relieved that we humans are comprehending why we can’t ever care for them adequately in zoos (I don’t think “care” can be put in same sentence as circus!) Very well done all that have made this possible for this incredible elephant ?

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      Yes, she has definitely put on muscle.

  23. REPLY
    Carey says

    Muscle mass also! Incredible how she survived her past life, in last years the dire lack of stimulation, and fear of her “companion” elephant must have nearly killed her. No wonder this exuberant sociable being was so depressed. Her mental strength surely must be remarkable. So happy for her and thankful.

  24. REPLY
    Wim says

    Even if this is a marathon treatment Bambi is picking everything up in her own way. Great achievement already in a short period of time.
    What a happy period of her life this must be.
    ???

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