While the only area inside the habitat that burned was across the creek, the firefighters lit several other back burns a distance from the elephant fences to help protect the habitat.
Since the fire, the elephants have mostly avoided the burned areas. Not only have they not crossed the creek, but they haven’t approached the East fence near where the fires were. Lady has gone to the pond several times but hasn’t gone past it. Maia has gotten in the pond, but only for short periods to stand in it and splash. We haven’t seen her pond blob once yet. We have no way to know why – it could be an instinctive avoidance, or maybe they don’t like the smell, or perhaps they just haven’t wanted to do those things for an unrelated reason. While Lady and Maia remain happy to wander, they only go deep in the habitat for a few hours at a time since the fire. We respect their choices, so we haven’t asked them to go toward the burned areas or stay out longer. Lady’s wanderings shifted on their own, a few days ago.
In some ways, Lady is our bravest elephant, even though she is still nervous about being close to the other elephants. Lady has impressed us again – this time, by being the first elephant to approach the eastern border, close to the burned areas. We first saw Lady in that area on the cameras and went to check on her. She seemed relaxed and calm. She appeared comfortable drinking from the water trough and even did well for treatment along the fence. Lady ultimately stayed out there for a few days.
We don’t know what changed, but we are happy to see her shifting, on her own, further into normalcy.
Comments(15) 
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Barb says
October 26, 2020 at 9:28 amSuch excellent news about Brave Lady! We wait for more news from ESB as always.
P.S., when you purchase merchandise by using PayPal, they offer a chance to donate $1 to your fav organization. Every little bit counts! You know my fav ??❤️
janet says
October 26, 2020 at 6:55 pmhi….also AMAZON SMILE……i support GSE on there……didnt know of PayPal will check out thanks…
Wim says
October 26, 2020 at 9:42 amBeautiful. Brave. Lovely. Heartwarming that’s what LADY means to me. Wonderful she’s brave enough to take these daring steps.??
Tammy Nelson says
October 26, 2020 at 10:49 amAll the ladies are simply amazing not a day goes by without one of them showing us how we too can overcome obstacles that are stopping us from moving forward! What a breath of fresh air and something I will continue to say “Man can learn alot from these beautiful gentle giants” God Bless their lil hearts….???????
pam says
October 26, 2020 at 10:07 amI love the elephants, and equally love how you write about them! Thank you for sharing.
Nancy Shaw says
October 26, 2020 at 11:11 amsmilel
Sunny says
October 26, 2020 at 11:27 amThere’s something about Lady 🙂
John Perrigo says
October 26, 2020 at 11:30 amApparently elephants are complicated, just like people.
AudreyD says
October 26, 2020 at 11:57 amI guess the fire has made them very nervous. I’m sure, in time, they will realize it’s okay to go back to that area. ❤️
Paula says
October 26, 2020 at 12:50 pmDulce Lady, eres una criatura maravillosa y valiente que nunca dejas de sorprender a quienes te amamos con locura!??
Es muy conmovedor que sea Lady quien se acercara primero a la frontera oriental…ella nos deja siempre fascinados y rendidos a sus pies!
TE AMO MUCHO LADY???
JoAnn Merriman Eaton says
October 26, 2020 at 1:10 pmThat LadyBug!! Love her!! Just cannot say it often enough. Thank you as always for the update. Much appreciated.
Sallie says
October 26, 2020 at 5:35 pmThe Girls see and smell the burn, knowing that all is not well at this time . . . Elephants are patient and thoughtful beings. When the light rains come, and they see new green shoots and blue cloudy skies, I bet they will know, Good Times are just around the corner! One step at a time, and our LadyBug will lead the way!
Barb Campbell says
October 26, 2020 at 6:06 pmMy beautiful brave Lady love her to bits ???????? I llove them all ??????
Ann-Marie Jacobs-Brown says
October 27, 2020 at 12:39 amStill waters run deep! Lady is such a special elephant. I feel she has much to teach Scott and Kat, who in turn, teach us. I am just so drawn to her, from the first glimpse of her leaving her transport and taking her first step onto sanctuary soil, and that attraction only gets stronger with each report on her behaviour and well-being.
Rosie P says
October 27, 2020 at 12:27 pmLady has taken my heart as ransom! This adorable, sentient, highly intelligent being is an inspiration to the human population of the world. I wish with every fibre of my being that all captive elephants could have had the close relationship of a herd, the family bond. Lady has spent her life without the support of the family group. She feels safe with her own company but trusts her human caregivers. Perhaps she sees you as her herd! She has grown in confidence with the realisation of having her own choices. We have to celebrate this fact…..Ladybug is loved and is finding herself. She is so brave. Love to you from the UK, darling angel….and love to all who care for her.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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