Getting to Know Mara

Mara is still doing very well in her new home at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil.

When the team checked on her at around 10 pm, she was lying down in the same dirt pile in Stall 1 that she laid on when she first arrived. She was in the barn when we arrived this morning as well, but as soon as she finished her breakfast, she walked back into the habitat and hasn’t returned. Choosing to return to the barn at night is typical for zoo elephants when they first arrive as they are used to sleeping in the same place every night. At some point, the elephants seem to realize that spending the night in the habitat is better than sleeping in the stalls of the barn.

She continues to be so very vocal and is full of noises this morning. She loves her squeaks and also makes a cute little grunting noise while she eats.

She is not a quiet girl, which means all of the other elephants certainly know she has arrived. This morning, Rana was as far away from Mara as she could be, but she is now on this side of the creek, and much closer to where Mara is. Lady is in a hidden pasture in 4, and Maia is still far away. Maia is across the creek, around where Rana was this morning.

Everyone here has the freedom of choice – not just Mara, but also Maia, Rana, and Lady. They all get to decide when they meet each other, so we do not know when it will happen. They all share fences with Mara currently, so they can meet when they choose to come back to the barn.

Mara has spent much of her time this morning picking at the grass – she is grazing very slowly, taking a lot of time to pick up tiny sections and enjoying each bite.

May 15, 2020

Comments(9)

Sheila says
May 15, 2020 at 4:21 pm
Great!‼️the other ?ladies know from themselves how they need time to rest from the rescue journey so they r being respectful 2 days! Im certain rana is going to come greeting today sometime because shes a social lady ?? will be nice see the video of meetings ?❤️
Wim Diepeveen says
May 15, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Thank you so much for your update. Mara seems to enjoy her new found freedom already. It’s a pleasure to watch her being Mara. It must be wonderful to follow her actions and reactions from close by.
Goodnight Miss MARA stay safe and protected wherever you wish to sleep.
???
Linda Lalonde says
May 15, 2020 at 5:41 pm
Wonderful hat Miss Mara! Roots and all! 🙂
Lila says
May 15, 2020 at 5:53 pm
This is so beautiful. I love to read about the process of each one, and with a new arrival it is also very exciting. Mara is such a cutie!!!
Patricia says
May 15, 2020 at 7:46 pm
It’s no surprise that I AM MAD ABOUT MARA!!! What a cutie, and a personality plus plus plus! You know I am desperately in love with all the girls. And you humans–my favorites! What wonderful little bulletins you send us. Hugs for every being!
Tammy says
May 15, 2020 at 7:55 pm
Absolutely adore watching the progress each Elephant makes after taking their first step onto Heaven on Earth sanctuary soil with each of them different in so many ways watching them blossom grow learn to trust and enjoy life again is priceless and so darn heartwarming we all can agree we never want to stop watching! I can only imagine how you two Kat and Scott and your amazing team are filled with joy and pride of another successful freedom transfer! Thank you to each of the Elephants care teams from where they each came I know it can’t be easy must be so extremely hard to say good bye after forming such a tight bond with these girls! Lots of love and gigantic hugs to you all from Minnesota ?
Barb says
May 15, 2020 at 7:59 pm
Mara is a real doll! I am especially enjoying seeing her reaction to different animals at the sancfuary. I don’t think I will ever forget seeing her back up away from the birds. Precious memory!
Patricia says
May 15, 2020 at 11:39 pm
MARA ❤?❤?
Rosie P says
May 16, 2020 at 3:07 am
I can’t wait to read these blogs each day. I love learning about each of the ellies and how they adapt at their own pace, their characters and reaction to each other. Mara seems to be enjoying finding herself in her new surroundings. She is such a beautiful girl and appears to be very tactile from the videos we have already seen. It’s so good to see her covering herself with dirt and being able to lazily graze on the fresh grasses. Mara just being Mara, in her own time. Simply wonderful!

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