Elephant Diary

Determined to Fit

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…...

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Mara’s Mud Balls

Traditionally, when an elephant “plays” in a mud wallow, they lie down, squish around, and pick up mud with their trunk to throw it on their bodies. It’s messy, but it works, and it covers much of their body in a nice coating of mud. They seem to enjoy both…...

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Bobbing for Apples

Sometimes, we cut apples into smaller pieces and put then in the water troughs around the habitat. This way, when an elephant comes to drink, they’ll find a little bobbing snack. In many parts of the world (including the US), this task is frequently a party game for humans in…...

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Rana the Nurturer

Rana has a bit of a reputation for being our most social elephant. She is the unofficial welcoming committee of the sanctuary and is usually the first to meet our new arrivals. Her calm demeanor and willingness to adjust to another elephant’s needs make her perfect for this. Despite having…...

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Napping in the Mud Wallow

Maia has found a new favorite place for morning naps, and it’s the mud wallow in yard one. Recently, in the mornings, the team arrives at the barn to sometimes find Maia sleeping in the mud wallow. Matheus, who is a (somewhat) new caregiver, was the first one to discover…...

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Maia Has a Very Special Presence About Her

We don’t post many photos of a dry Maia, or a clean Maia, or a Maia standing up, or of Maia not in the pond. It’s not a decision that we make; it’s just because she is usually covered in mud or lying down in the pond. We love all…...

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