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Happy #MelonMonday!

It’s #MelonMonday! As we mentioned yesterday, Mara is eating several hundred pounds of produce each day, which is fantastic.

We have discovered one food that she just can’t get enough of: the Melão amarelo, or yellow melon. They’re similar to honeydew (known in some places as a White Antibes melon), except smaller and sweeter. They are bite-sized to an elephant and quite a favorite. In this video, you can watch her enjoying them. She will almost always eat them, even when she isn’t particularly interested in food. After she eats a few of these melons, she’s usually more willing to eat another food. It’s what we all reach for every time Mara starts acting “meh” during meal times, because it works.

She eats a lot of them. At first, we were ordering 40 a week and were sending someone to the store over an hour away each week to buy a few more. We started ordering 50 and were still running out. And now we are getting 60 a week and find ourselves wishing we had more.

Unfortunately, these melons are the most expensive produce we purchase. The melons are around US$3 each this time of year (in Brazilian currency, they’re around R$17), which adds up quickly.

We wanted to ask each of you to buy a melon – or two, or three—for Mara! You can use the donate button on this post or donate through our website here – https://globalelephants.kindful.com/

All donations to our general fund today will go towards buying #Melons4Mara.

They make her happy – and since they help her eat more, they make us happy too!

In the video Mara is crunching on one melon, while holding the other in her lower lip- ready to pop in as soon as the first one is done.

Comments(18)

  1. REPLY
    John says
    March 1, 2021 at 3:41 pm

    It looks like it’s a mellow melon Mara Monday,

  2. REPLY
    Debbie Sides says
    March 1, 2021 at 3:52 pm

    It looks delicious and the fact that they’re “bite size” is adorable to watch her eat them.

  3. REPLY
    Alana says
    March 1, 2021 at 3:56 pm

    Happy to give her some joy. Donation link is easy to use.

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says
      March 1, 2021 at 6:26 pm

      Thank you 🙂

  4. REPLY
    Nancy Shaw says
    March 1, 2021 at 4:08 pm

    I like what John said…… ( :

  5. REPLY
    Cintia Abney says
    March 1, 2021 at 4:41 pm

    I wish you have tons of zMellons on your wsy, Mara ?

  6. REPLY
    SHEILA says
    March 1, 2021 at 7:58 pm

    OH MZ MARA!❤️?CERTAINLY SHOULD GAIN WEIGHT EATING ALL THESE MELLONS ????WHICH IM SURE ARE HIGH IN NATURAL SUGAR AS R WATERMELONS!! I NOTICE SHE IS EATING MELONS WITH LABELS ON THEM!
    IM CONCERNED AS I THINK WITH HER STOMACH ISSUE NO STICKY LABELS SHOULD BE INJESTED, JUST SUGGESTING⚠️

    • REPLY
      sara says
      March 1, 2021 at 8:19 pm

      Thanks for worrying about Mara. Elephants can digest trees, so they certainly aren’t going to be phased by a little sticker. We do still have some diligent caregivers who insist on removing them.

  7. REPLY
    Iris says
    March 1, 2021 at 8:31 pm

    I wish you’d do a fundraiserfor Tamy. I worry about him giving in to depression when the girls leave.

    • REPLY
      sara says
      March 1, 2021 at 8:36 pm

      The monthly recurring donations from our sponsors do, in part, go toward Tamy’s care. Once the girls leave, we will be able to provide him more personalized care and lots of stimulation. We do appreciate how much you care about all of the elephants we plan to bring to sanctuary.

  8. REPLY
    Katie Howard says
    March 1, 2021 at 9:23 pm

    Melons for Mara! I’m IN! ?

    • REPLY
      sara says
      March 2, 2021 at 10:26 am

      Thank you!

  9. REPLY
    Rosie P says
    March 2, 2021 at 3:44 am

    Rosie is recovering from visual loss after suffering a stroke 4 weeks ago.(she feels she has a kindred spirit in Bambi now) I’m Matt, her husband. She wants you to know that she insists on following you every day and has not missed a blog even when in hospital. Sending melons to Mara…..enjoy many, darling girl.
    Much love from us both.X

    • REPLY
      sara says
      March 2, 2021 at 10:28 am

      Thank you so much. Please send well wishes to Rosie from all of us. We are lucky to have her (and you) as supporters. We’ll be thinking about you.

  10. REPLY
    Tammy Nelson says
    March 2, 2021 at 9:42 am

    So glad to see Mara enjoying these yummy melons after all she’s been through this is the least we can do to see that huge smile on her adorable face, lots of love and big hugs from Minnesota ???

  11. REPLY
    Carol Mitchell says
    March 2, 2021 at 11:17 am

    This is such a lovely idea, good on you guys! I sent Mara 10 melons, tell her we all love her please! Thank you for everything you do, you guys are amazing! Sending a virtual high~five from St. Louis, MO. ?♥️

    • REPLY
      sara says
      March 2, 2021 at 12:21 pm

      Thank you!

  12. REPLY
    Sallie says
    March 2, 2021 at 8:45 pm

    Mara is quite the “Girlie”, and is always well prepared and knowledgeable re yummy treats – with her motto, “Always have a stiff upper and lower lip for your second melon!” (As you happily chew on the one in your mouth!). You GO girl!

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