Getting a Better Look

Ramba is continuing to flourish at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. This morning her and Rana came back to the barn and were standing side by side. We let both of them inside of the same stall, and they contentedly ate their own meals without being guarded or nervous. There was no food stealing or dominance, just a peaceful breakfast.

We had them come into the stall so we could clean Rana’s eye (her papilloma) and give Ramba a thorough and full bath in order to get a better look at her entire body and any superficial issues she might have. Because they didn’t have a proper training area in Chile and Ramba is not that in to touch and doesn’t like to stand still for examination, it was essential to get a good look.

Scott gave her a thorough soaking, using a fair bit of pressure from the hose to get through the mud and expose what was underneath. Her scarring is significant, allover a fair bit of her body. She has many ingrown hairs along her spine, some old urine scald on her inner legs, and some problems we already knew about from her caregivers. Ramba has an old pressure wound on her back leg that opens up on occasion. This should heal after enough time where she is no longer lying down on concrete. Under her temporal gland, on the right side of her face, she also has another pressure sore that flares up. This one has caused more problems in the past, but we are hoping this will heal as well. She has a ton of dead skin all over her body, layers and layers from years of not being able to exfoliate on trees or other abrasive surfaces, but that will improve significantly, especially with her love of mud and scratching.

All in all, things didn’t look too bad. During Ramba’s bath, Rana was in the stall behind her, keeping an eye on everything we were doing. And Ramba remained calm, enjoyed her treats, and worked a little bit with having her nose touched (something she struggled with in the last couple of months in Chile).

While we know a life of sanctuary will help heal her body and soul, we also have a responsibility to provide her with the needed medical care as a result of a hard captive life. This is just one of the baby steps in establishing her comfort, our knowledge, and enabling us all to move forward together in providing her the best care possible.

October 26, 2019

Comments(6)

Bobi says
October 26, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Thank you so much for taking time to share these intimate details of her gentle acceptance of care, as we witness the unfolding love in Sanctuary, the immense emotional support Rana offers Ramba in the safety of her silent presence. So beautiful, trust.
Julie Marshall says
October 26, 2019 at 1:52 pm
She’s a very lucky lady to have you all ??
Carolyn McNeil says
October 26, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Happy Birthday Scott. This old lady is sending you a great big hug and smooch on the cheek!
CyrAnn says
October 26, 2019 at 6:02 pm
So happy to her Ramba is doing so well!!!!!!!!!
And that she is letting Rama closer to her personal space….
And finally she’s getting the medical care she so greatly needs, but not forgetting her caregivers in Chile that did their best for her:)
Kelejan says
October 26, 2019 at 7:57 pm
It is like us having a spa treatment every day. I can just imagine how much better she must feel every day that passes.
Carey says
October 27, 2019 at 6:48 am
It made me emotional hearing all that you found, the scarring … what she has been through and she is able to be as sane as she is is deeply humbling , and her cleaning and mud bathing and scratching is now so obviously for a very good reason. She is going to need a lot of care. Her skin can only get to what it should be now. Goodness knows all her wounds one way or the other Ramba is an example, again of what captivity can do and does. Best wishes for her ongoing care and a few £££
PS I also send you birthday wishes Scott and many happy returns.

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