From Scott: Guille and the Vulnerabilities of Training

As we’ve mentioned, we’re working on training with Guillermina so that she can learn some new behaviors for foot care and refine some of her other behaviors like “lean ins,” which were limited because there wasn’t a full training wall to work with them in Mendoza. In addition to acquiring the skills she’ll need for footwork and other treatments, the sessions are important because they help build relationships between caregiver and elephant.

Due to their pasts and, more specifically, due to the vast voids of captivity, all elephants arrive at the sanctuary with some level of trauma. All evolve and grow through their discovery of life and the liberties of autonomy which allow them to find their space to heal. Guille’s journey is interesting. She is spirited and playful, often silly, and seems like a 12-year old living in a 24-year old’s body. Her journey has been made all the more difficult with the passing of her mom, which she is navigating through with remarkable grace.

Training, which is all through protected contact and positive reinforcement, is a necessary part of our ability to provide the highest degree of veterinary care, but it is also a time where we connect to the elephants on a little different level. Needless to say, we don’t speak the same language, we are trying to read them, and they are trying to understand what it is that we are asking of them. Guille is incredibly smart and uniquely attentive to the finest of details that mean the difference between a small reward and the jackpot. She is gentle and deeply present during training sessions. But, there is a disconnect with her, a veil that still hides her emotions. This has always been there, but when her mother Pocha was alive, Guille would occasionally let us see more of her inner spirit. As other members of the care team watch the training sessions, they see her cooperation and attentiveness. We are looking for the small openings in her veil, little moments when she lets the guard down. So she does not become overwhelmed, we don’t celebrate these moments in the same way we would a correct behavior. Instead, we simply use words to let her know that we see that she is trying.

We are all vulnerable. Most of us don’t like feeling vulnerable, but when we allow ourselves to reside within that space, even if just for a few moments, this is when we truly start to reveal who we are and connect to the world around us. Guille has a wall around her vulnerable self and, although she has reinforced this with the passing of Pocha, it is something she has carried for years. We often say that the most important part of sanctuary is not the people – which is true – it is the space, the autonomy, respect, and other elephants. But we can be facilitators to help with their journey. With Guille, at this point in her journey, training is serving to help her to build trust. It’s meant to help her know that we are listening, that we understand, and that she is seen, not just as an elephant, but as a remarkable spirit yet to fully discover her inner beauty.

Photo of Guillermina

Comments(19)

Pam says
December 15, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Thank you so much for this sharing, and for your deep sensitivity to the elephants’ needs and well-being. Off topic somewhat: Have you gotten the results of the TB tests on Guille?
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  Sara says
  December 15, 2022 at 2:10 pm
  We’ve shared all that we know about that right now. But we will report more when we know more.
Nicole says
December 15, 2022 at 2:13 pm
So well said, Scott. Beautiful topic today.
Carol says
December 15, 2022 at 2:17 pm
The thing that sets Guille apart from the other ladies, is the fact that she will live the majority of her life in freedom. That is her blessing. She will come around in time. God willing she will live a long, happy and healthy life.
Julie says
December 15, 2022 at 2:18 pm
I am just so grateful for the vulnerability you all reveal every day in these posts. I just don’t know what else is comparable in my life experience. Thank you, Scott, for your openness and efforts every day.
Wim says
December 15, 2022 at 2:21 pm
Wow, Scott, quite an emotional lesson today. It’s so utterly interesting to read and digest. Must be double difficult to Guille. Hopefully, time and companionship will help her step by step.
Carey says
December 15, 2022 at 2:51 pm
The wall will go in its own time, it was built with purpose and was probably essential for her, I’m glad you are aware of her. She’s been with you for so little time, and had yet more trauma to deal with since October, and I remember she was sometimes overly protective of her mum too wasn’t she? So much for her to learn, but the grace with which you say she is dealing with the loss of mother will I should think encourage her to be brave.
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  Sara says
  December 15, 2022 at 3:41 pm
  She was a little bit dominant over her mother but, as you said, she has a lot to learn and is doing remarkably well.
Linda says
December 15, 2022 at 3:38 pm
It is so wonderful that she was at sanctuary when she lost her mother. I can’t imagine her being alone in that barren concrete environment and suddenly, for the first time in her life, being absolutely alone and dealing with the loss of her mother. Nothing to even stimulate her or distract her. Such a blessing she had time to form bonds with the other elephants and with the team there before the traumatic event of Pocha’s passing.
Suzanne Eaton says
December 15, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Scott, so profound and beautifully said. There is so much to learn about and from these sentient beings. Thank you for sharing.
JoAnn Merriman-Eaton says
December 15, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Guille will get there with the gentle care and guidance of GSE. She has proven she is a survivor with remarkable spirit.❤️🐘
John says
December 15, 2022 at 5:31 pm
Scott, you obviously have a long and close connection with elephants. Some day, if you are willing, I’d like to hear more about your story. It’s inspiring what you’ve done. If that is already on the website somewhere please let me know.
Deb says
December 15, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Thank you for sharing your insight & helping us understand the intricacies of elephant behavior. I look forward to your posts EVERDAY😍
These ladies are fortunate to have you!
Deanna Young says
December 15, 2022 at 11:25 pm
Thank you Scott . It’s good to hear about Guille progress in living life without mama Pocha s guidance . To hear that that thin veil opens to glimpses of her innocence and and true self is heartwarming…and for her to hear soft and gentle encouragement by you is gorgeous stuff ! As always , love to the SEB family! 💚🎄🐘
Susy says
December 16, 2022 at 11:42 am
Gracias por este informe detallado y emotivo. Las lágrimas no me abandonan. Creo que si hubiera perdido a su madre en cautiverio no hubiera podido superarlo. Gracias al universo está ahí..contenida, acompañada en este proceso de aprender a vivir, cómo si tuviera 12. Aún no logro comprender que conexión especial tengo con ella y tuve con Picha, algún día lo entenderé. Gracias Santuario por este espacio de información y poder expresarnos.
Debbie Coulsey says
December 16, 2022 at 12:43 pm
I love both sanctuaries you are/were involved with. You have done so much good & hopefully help end ele’s in zoo’s, circuses . But reading your post you made the comment how most of the elephants are older & Gullie is so young. It hit me how she could be there for 40 + years! Since she is so young has any thought about her being introduced to a program like Sheldrick only in Asia? There are programs that take orphans & raise them & slowly introduce them into the wild population. It breaks my heart that she will never have the joy & love of offspring & a family unit to live with for a lifetime. Are there other young adults in North America? How can we give them a real life? Yes for the older ele’s what you have done for them is absolutely the best. They spent 50 + yrs performing & chained, sanctuary is a dream for them and a wonderful way to live the rest of their lives.
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  Sara says
  December 16, 2022 at 2:55 pm
  There are a lot of complicated issues involved in your question, so it requires kind of a complex answer. We don’t know of any successful releases of captive Asian elephants, though several organizations have released African elephants well. Organizations like Sheldrick work with calves and Guille is an adult elephant. Most elephants that have spent their lives in captivity for the amount of time Guillermina has aren’t good candidates for release. And the truth is that she doesn’t have a true familial herd to help her raise a calf should she ever be released into the wild. We’re already seeing foot issues with her and we don’t know how extensive they will be or how long they will last. It’s definitely something we think about and consider how we will handle when the time comes.
SHEILA says
December 16, 2022 at 1:54 pm
SWEET GUILLIE. IM SURE SHE IS STILL GRIEVING THE LOSS OF POACHA. SHE WAS SO CLOSE TO HER FOR ALL HER LIFE PLUS SHE KNEW HER DADDY. TAMY. GUILLIE. IS A YOUNG BEAUTY. I PARTICULARLY LOVE HER BEAUTIFUL TAIL. IM SURE SHE LOVES U ALOT SCOTT FOR HER RESCUE. WHO WOULD KNOW POACHA WOULD PASS. SO SOON . IM SURE GUILLE WILL PROGRESS INTO YOUR TRAINING FOR HER FOOT CARE AND MEDICAL CHECKUPD. SHE SEEMS TO BE SEEKING ATTENTION WHICH. SHE CERTAINLY NEEDS. LOVE UR BIG KID. GUILLERMINA❤
María Elizabeth Alvarez says
December 16, 2022 at 8:02 pm
Thank you!!!!

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