During a morning treatment, while the humans were with Mara and Rana along the fence, a nearby Maia decided that her entire body could fit in a nearby mud wallow.
Many adjectives can describe Maia, but “little” is never one of them. She is a big girl and doesn’t fit in a lot of places… and she certainly doesn’t fit in a small mud hole. It was like watching a cat and a tiny box. As the saying goes, “If it fits, I sits,” and Maia was determined to fit.
She got down on her front wrists and tried to get her head, along with half her belly, to squish into the hole. Again, this is Maia. Half her belly is still quite a lot of mid-section, especially after breakfast and “cleaning” Yard 3. She was determined to fit and was not interested in giving up. She started kicking backward with her legs to make more space for her body. Kicking that way, of course, just threw water everywhere because it’s not an effective method of enlarging a hole in the ground. ?
We have several human-made mud wallows here, which are more than large enough for her – and that she frequently uses for naps. We also have several elephant-made mud wallows that the girls create. This one was elephant-made, so it was a smaller one. We try to keep them wet through the dry season, which means that we periodically “water” them to keep them muddy. We had just topped this hole off that morning, and Maia was determined to enjoy it.
This cute little party of one went on for a while because Maia was so determined. Eventually, physics won out, and Maia decided to nap elsewhere.
Comments(15) 
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Susan Flewelling says
July 8, 2020 at 4:28 pmLove your daily tales of what the girls are up to! Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us – which you do so eloquently! !
Rosie P says
July 9, 2020 at 3:18 amTotally agree, Susan. We supporters are so lucky to have these posts each day. I don’t know of any other that does this. It’s truly fabulous to get to learn about the girls’ characters in such interesting blogs…it feels as though I am right there with them. Glorious!
Heidi says
July 8, 2020 at 4:51 pmThat is too funny! And I agree with Susan!
Barb says
July 8, 2020 at 4:56 pmI would like to double the post of Susan’s. We are so fortunate to get such personal and detailed updates about the girls at ESB! Many, many thanks!
Sheila says
July 8, 2020 at 5:03 pmMaia! ?yes u r a big chuuby gal❗️very healthy and very determined❗️sorry enlarging ur mud bath hole didnt work out for u today! However, younglady, if u keep up ur perseverance u will succeed in making the mud hole ur size dear bravo maia?‼️!
Jillyp says
July 8, 2020 at 5:54 pmWonderful everyday little things, it’s FANTASTIC that she is free to enjoy moments like this ???
Wim says
July 8, 2020 at 6:01 pm‘What do you mean I’m a big girl these mud wallows keep on shrinking all the time.
Great job Maia girl. Thanks for another thrilling ELE story. No mud No glory.
???
Patricia says
July 8, 2020 at 6:32 pmCutest round girl!
Shirley Taylor says
July 8, 2020 at 6:32 pmI know just how she felt when I know I cannot fit into something but keep struggling and determined it shrunk in the wash is my excuse. Love her so much for trying and you for making the start iof my day so good with the stories. Thankyou. x
Susan says
July 8, 2020 at 6:33 pm“If it fits, I sits” ? I am still laughing at that and it gave me the perfect image in my mind of exactly how Little Miss Maia must have looked! I love her even more if that is possible! Fabulous blog, thank you!!!! ❤️?❤️?❤️
Nishant Bhajaria says
July 8, 2020 at 7:29 pmI was having a rough day but Maia brought a smile to my face 🙂
Debbie Sides says
July 8, 2020 at 7:35 pmShe is such a cutie! A plump dumplin’??
Carey says
July 8, 2020 at 10:08 pmso so funny, I can see her in my minds eye
Bertica Valdes Suarez says
July 9, 2020 at 2:00 pmI wish I could volunteer to be a mud wallow waterer or a human mud wallow maker. : )) Thanks so much for the movie-like stories. I feel like I’m right there.
Carol Anderson says
July 9, 2020 at 10:53 pmI always make sure to read the daily blogs. Never miss a day. They are always so interesting. THANKS!
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