Guillermina and Rana Cross Paths

In this video you can see (from left to right) Maia, Bambi, Mara, Guillermina, and Rana. They are spending time together at the mud wallow after breakfast and medical evaluations. Everything was calm for a while until Guille decided she wanted to interact with Rana in a forward way. Guillermina begins using her tushes to poke Rana, which gives her a little push.

Bambi immediately rumbles and heads toward Rana before stopping to make sure Mara is okay. Guillermina chooses to leave the area and begins to walk farther into the habitat, looking for leftover breakfast hay. Bambi and Mara gather around Rana and the three vocalize for quite some time. All the while, Maia stays off to the side and watches the situation unfold.

It’s important to note that as soon as Bambi began making noises, Guille moved away. In the past, it’s possible that Guillermina would have stayed longer and continued to push Rana’s buttons or get corrected by Bambi before moving on. Though the interaction might seem a little dramatic, it may signal some growth on Guille’s part for moving away so quickly. Between her youthful exuberance and being raised in such substantial confinement where she was allowed to be physically dominant over her mother, that old way of functioning sometimes gets the best of her. But small steps, like Guillermina stepping away quickly, are important as she continues to become part of the sanctuary herd.

We are sharing this video because we believe it’s important to see what Guillermina’s behavior looks like and understand a behavior that every elephant sanctuary has experienced. Elephants have the ability to truly harm each other, but that’s not what these actions represent. Anyone at any wild animal sanctuary will tell you how difficult introductions and socialization can be and how it can take time, but it’s something that often isn’t shared publicly. Organizations have been made to feel like anything that isn’t viewed as overly positive is terrible and a fake portrait of true sanctuary can sometimes be painted. What Guille does here is minimal compared to how she acted with Pocha who, while she did her best to raise Guille in hard circumstances, allowed Guille to be dominant in a physical way long before she came to sanctuary. Because of our transparency and our view on how important education is, we want to share both the good and bad and in between. And although this behavior isn’t the most positive thing, for Guille it is part of her evolution and a significant improvement over how she was when she arrived. Of course, she still has growing to do, but this isn’t something we see from her often. It’s a little remnant of her past life that will eventually fade to nothing.

Comments(15)

Melinda says
July 20, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Guille will learn and the others will help her. Elephants are so wonderful!
Sue says
July 20, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Thank you for sharing this post with us. It gives more insight on how the Girls continue to grow as a herd. Although different, it made me think of Maia and Guida’s interactions before sanctuary and after they arrived. Thank you for continuing to educate and show examples of the amazing complexity of these beautiful beings we love so much. I do wonder what Maia was thinking as she looked on!! Love and hugs ❤️🐘❤️
Nancy says
July 20, 2023 at 2:55 pm
Thank you for explaining all of this activity!! I am so Thankful All of these gorgeous Eles are in the Global Sanctuary.
Sheila says
July 20, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Ohoh. GUILLIE. SURE PULLED A BEHAVIOR ISSUE ON RANA!! GREAT U CAUGHT THIS EPISODE. AS GUILLE IS ABIT BOSSY. WHAT I SEE US HOW LOYAL BAMBI, MARA ARE COMING TO SURROUND RANA RIGHT AWAY IN A VERY LOVING PROTECTIVE WAY. GUILLIE KNEW SHE ACTED BADLY AND FLED LIKE A THEIF IN THE NIGHT. FUNNY HOW MAIA. STAYED AWAY FROM THE LOYAL LADIES. I WONDER IF GUILLIE FEELS BAD AND EMBARRASED AND IF MAIA WILL CHAT TO GUILLE ABOUT THIS CONDUCT TO MATRIARCH RANA ??THIS SURE SURPRISED ME!!
Carey says
July 20, 2023 at 3:06 pm
Thank you for showing this, WOW! It really is educational and should be shown. I’m sorry that sanctuaries feel such pressure for everything to be sweetness and light all the time between the animals, it’s obviously not how reality works. My eyes were wide open watching all the actions here, Bambi took my breath away! It was all very interesting.
- REPLY
  Sara says
  July 20, 2023 at 3:29 pm
  We believe it’s important to be transparent. Everything isn’t perfect all of the time, but Guille is progressing all of the time.
Patricia Richardson says
July 20, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Thank you for sharing the video and your words! Reassuring that this behavior will fade to nothing.💜😊💜
Mollie says
July 20, 2023 at 3:27 pm
Thank you for educating us to the realities and process of Guille’s introduction into the life of GSE’s Sanctuary. I’m blown away how quick Bambi went to protect/guard Mara; and I’m forever intrigued of their rumblings, squeeks, etc . Good brave girl Maia….. observing from a distance.
Suzanne Eaton says
July 20, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Wow! Guillermina’s behavior really surprised me and Rana not reprimanding her surprised me too.
But Bambi and Mara were quickly at her side giving her support. Guillermina must have been embarrassed with her naughty behavior and walked away so quickly. I wonder why she did that??? Thank you for sharing.
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  Sara says
  July 20, 2023 at 6:20 pm
  Rana isn’t really one who would correct Guille. Bambi and Maia are more vigilant in that way. But Guillermina is on a journey and she has a lot of things to learn (and unlearn) as she becomes part of the herd.
Heather Parsons says
July 20, 2023 at 6:58 pm
It is really nice to view natural behaviour of these girls. When I watched it, I just saw Guille being a bit boisterous too early in the morning for Rana. When Guille realised it was not reciprocated, she went off in search of more breakfast. The girls clustered (clucking) around Rana and had a gossip about Guilles behaviour. Women are women no matter what animal. 😉
John says
July 20, 2023 at 7:05 pm
As The Elephant World Turns…..
Lori Hoover says
July 20, 2023 at 7:45 pm
I am glad that you shared the video and the explanations to go with it. I am encouraged that Guille stopped so quick, and I am so proud of Bambi and Mara, coming to Rana after all she has done for them over the years. The more time goes by, the more the other girls seem to really understand how much Rana has done for them over the years. Guille will, too. As you said, she’s young and she seemed to get the message quickly this instance. Maia watching was interesting, too. I wonder if Guille would try that much of an aggressive move with Maia. I did love the sound of the three together, and Mara Squeaks are still some of the cutest sounds in the world. Guille will get there. She really does have serious looking tushes, though. YIKES!! That may be the most noticeable ones I’ve ever seen.
JoAnn Merriman-Eaton says
July 21, 2023 at 4:04 pm
This behavior of Guille , and the actions of the other girls reflects how much Guille has grown in her social manners. So proud of her choice to walk away, and seemingly to understand it was not appropriate. Interesting also, and somewhat humorous was the rumbling and conversation between the girls and watching Guille ambling off down the path! Like “Yeah girl…you know better”.😍 I had a twinge of feeling sorry for her, and at the same time proud of her decision! LOVE Guille! ❤️🐘
Marcia says
July 22, 2023 at 3:36 pm
LOOK AT BAMBI’S FACE! as she starts to go to Rana’s defense, then backs up to Mara. If you could do one of those funny cartoons where they put human voiceovers to the animals’ movements, doesn’t Bambi’s facial expression and lip movements look like she’s saying to Mara, “What the?! Mara, we’ve got to do something here! What does that child think she’s doing?!”

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