As we mentioned last week, Guillermina is still in the process of learning the best ways to live with other elephants. She has a very young and boisterous personality that, while often charming, can seem a little much for some. Still, the other elephants are doing their best to learn what life is like around such youthful energy. Part of this process is teaching Guille to communicate in a healthy way, which will most likely take some time.
In this video, each elephant is having a snack after their meal, in a different spot in the habitat. Placing food throughout the habitat encourages them to move around and gives them something to look for. But, they generally end up finding food and relocating so they can eat right next to one another. Guillermina is a quick eater and sometimes impatient with finding her own food. To her, it’s easier to see who has already found snacks and try to take some bites from that elephant’s pile. Specifically, she knows that Pocha doesn’t resist when Guille wants some food.
Here, you catch a glimpse of how subtly Guille can maneuver another elephant physically. Guille walks directly over to Mara and bumps her to sort of scoot her out of the way. Mara’s response is to take a bite of hay and walk off, leaving the rest of food for Guillermina. Guille displays different levels of intensity at times when dealing with other elephants. But, more often, she uses behaviors that can be pushy and subtle, rather than overtly aggressive. We wanted to give you an idea of what this more understated form of control looks like and let you know it’s not necessarily as forceful as some might picture in their heads. As we said, Guillermina still needs to learn what is appropriate in social situations, but this behavior isn’t who she is; it is just how she learned to get what she wanted in the deprived situation she came from. She is a fun presence that is invigorating the others in ways we couldn’t have anticipated. As time goes on, we will see how they all adapt to one another.
Comments(26) 
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Pam says
August 2, 2022 at 2:09 pmThanks, Sara. I appreciate having this further explanation and example!
CAROL says
August 2, 2022 at 2:11 pmPerhaps that is the reason Guille is overweight. Her momma let her eat HER food too!!!
Nancy says
August 2, 2022 at 2:12 pmThank You!!
Deb says
August 2, 2022 at 2:20 pmThis makes me sad to see Pocha acquiesce to Guillermina. I’m sure she did the best she could when they were in that horrible pit, and hopefully she’ll get lots of help from all the girls to teach Guillermina to be a respectful young lady.💝🙏🏻
Sara says
August 2, 2022 at 2:34 pmThere’s a lot of learning yet to be done by Guille. It’s all a process.
Susan Flewelling says
August 2, 2022 at 2:21 pmLooking forwsrd to the day Pocha bumps her back! 🤭
Nancy HartGold says
August 2, 2022 at 2:27 pmIn the wild would Guille have the opportunity to engage in play with elephants around her age? If yes, then she has never had the chance to do so, its understandable that she needs to learn to behave in new environment.
Sara says
August 2, 2022 at 2:35 pmIn the wild, she likely would have had other elephants her age to learn with, but also other elephants in a matriarchal herd to help guide behavior. It’s understandable that Guille has a lot to learn.
Carmen Dalziel says
August 2, 2022 at 2:36 pmWhat do you know about Pocha’s life before the stone walled dungeon? Has she ever felt freedom before the Sanctuary? She has the patience of a saint!
Sara says
August 2, 2022 at 2:39 pmWe don’t know much about her early life – only that she came to Mendoza from Germany when she was about 4. There’s no documentation on whether she was wild caught or not.
Nishant says
August 2, 2022 at 3:26 pmDid Pocha get enough to eat?
Sara says
August 2, 2022 at 3:41 pmWe make sure that Pocha always has enough to eat. Not to worry.
Julie says
August 2, 2022 at 3:35 pmI know this post is about Guille, where she is now and hoping for growth, but I feel so much for Guille. I feel her pain as a mother trying to do her best in a very bad situation and the immaturity of a child not showing appreciation or respect. It is a common theme, Mama Pocha, and I hope somehow the aunties can sense your situation and help you out with little miss!
Sara says
August 2, 2022 at 3:42 pmIt’s all a learning process, for every elephant here. Pocha has a chance to learn who she is as an individual, and that’s a big deal. Guille is on a pathway toward learning respect, so that’s important, too.
Melinda says
August 2, 2022 at 3:40 pmGiGi has some manners to learn! But I know she will!
Carey says
August 2, 2022 at 3:59 pmWonderful notes on this so interesting introduction of mother and daughter to the herd. What an education it is for me.
angie says
August 2, 2022 at 5:21 pmThis is a brilliant post, giving great insight into the herd behaviour with Missy Guille -who WILL come to know her place in the herd – it’s still early days. What a wonderful video. ! With much love and happy rumbles from Angie in Eastern Ontario Canada xxx
Tracy H says
August 2, 2022 at 6:15 pmSara – The way you tell the stories about all the girls and how they interact makes it seem like I’m right there watching and learning with you all. Hearing about how each and everyday goes for all of them is so interesting and I look forward to your post everyday. I can’t wait to see when Mama P finally reprimands her over the top energized and fun loving girl Guille. Like you said she needs to learn respect and I know she will eventually get it. Time and patience will have rewards🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘
Sara says
August 2, 2022 at 6:33 pmThank you for reading!
Debbie Coulsey says
August 2, 2022 at 8:11 pmI’m very glad you showed us that G’s behavior Isn’t as bad as we thought! I was so disappointed thinking she was hitting!! Now we have to hope Mom finds some strength to say NO. Very hard after 20 years of living in a basically an empty pool with nothing but cement! What a life change they both are going thru. As you have said, just looking forward, seeing trees, grass, water and especially other elephants! You have REALLY done an amazing thing for ALL these girls!!
Charlotte says
August 2, 2022 at 10:18 pmThank you–it’s not nearly as bad as I had envisioned!
Bonnie says
August 3, 2022 at 1:25 amI read all the comments and everyone’s comments are pretty much accurate the little one has a lot to learn and she will it’s not going to happen overnight like someone said in the comments section mommy let her get away with things and there may have been a reason for it I believe the youngster will learn respect for her mom and the rest of the ladies
John says
August 3, 2022 at 11:33 amHow can you not love Guille? And Pocha, and Lady, and Mara, and Rana, and Maia, and Bambi? 😉
Elizabeth says
August 3, 2022 at 4:02 pmOh, I saw on Facebook that it was Mara that Guillermina bumped off her food. Kind of looked like she “goosed” her.
Sara says
August 3, 2022 at 4:40 pmWe updated the text here, too, so things would be correct.
Sheila says
August 15, 2022 at 2:45 amIVE SEEN 🐘GUILLE DO A LIL BUTT TO MUMMA SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE. GUILLE IS GENTLE SHE IS STILL MANEUVERING 🐘POCHA! IF SHES DOING THIS TO MARA OFTEN I THINK IT WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE MARA WHACKS HER WITH HER TRUNK AND SPEAKS UP. I RECALL WHEN BAMBI WAS OVERSTEPPING BOUNDARY WITH MARA.🐘 SHE GOT A BIG PUSH AND BAMBI🐘 HAD HURT FEELINGS FOR A FEW DAYS. OH I THINK THE LADIES R NOT EVER GOING TO BE MEAN. BECAUSE THEY ALL LOVE EACH OTHER AND KNOW EACH OTHER HAS HAD ENOUGH ABUSE IN FORMER LIFE,!!
I NOTE.🐘 BAMBI WAS TREATED VERY POORLY BY MADISON AT THAT ZOO. AND WAS QUITE DEPRESSED WHEN SCOTT RESCUED THE🐘 BIG GAL!
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