Lady Explores and Flourishes

Lady spends much of her time in Yards 1, 2, and 3. Those are the smaller yards and closer to the barn, so she does not spend much time in Yards 4 and 5, which are the big yards. Some of the reasoning behind keeping her in the smaller yards is not only because of the importance of daily foot soaks, but also because of the dynamic between her and the other girls. Recently Lady has been expressing interest in spending time in the bigger yards, looking out over the gates into Yard 4.

So, one day, after her foot soaks, we opened the gate to Yard 5 and, as soon as she saw it, she was on a mission. She didn’t rush toward it, but just stepped into the space and started enthusiastically grazing. Scott went out a little while later to put out some additional food for the girls and saw Lady in the bushes, still contentedly grazing.

Giving Lady options like this allows her to express a different side of her personality than she normally does and lets her have room for more emotional exploration. Until the new chute and treatment area is completed, we won’t have the ability to perform her foot soaks so far into the habitat, so that creates a challenge with giving her access to the larger yards more often. Once that project is finished, she can be allowed more time in Yards 4 and 5.

Like all of the elephants, Lady needs this sort of balance in her day-to-day life. That’s part of how we approach treatment here; we can’t focus only on her physical health, but have to nurture her emotional health as well. Even though she does walk around quite a bit in the smaller yards, she gets much more mental stimulation when in the larger yards. In these moments when Lady explores the bigger spaces, we see a sort of spiritual change in her. It is difficult to describe, but she seems more connected to what is around her and at peace. We often speak of the importance of choice in sanctuary, that allowing elephants the autonomy to make decisions helps them to heal in deep ways. This was a perfect example of a restorative moment and how listening to Lady gave her space and time to feel more freedom.

Comments(14)

Carey says
May 26, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Lady seems to. have come a remarkably long way from where she was not so long ago, which must be very gratifying to see, as it is for us to hear. And that pic, must be heaven to see no fence between her spot and the sunset! Did Lady stay out in the big yards overnight?
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  Sara says
  May 26, 2021 at 3:20 pm
  She does spend the night out in the bigger yards. The gates are open, so she can come back if she chooses, but she usually stays out for at least a few days before returning. She can still receive some foot treatments in the habitats, but not foot soaks.
John says
May 26, 2021 at 2:30 pm
What a picture. This place is amazing. I’m so grateful I found it last September!
Katie Howard says
May 26, 2021 at 2:40 pm
Our Lady is a special case! ❤️ It would be so easy for you to just kind of “leave her be”, given her current preference for solitude. But you give her such a great balance – alone time mixed with special treatment (for her poor feet), and lots of love and opportunities to explore/consideration for her emotional healing.
Lady has a special place in my heart and I can’t thank you enough ❤️?❤️
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  Sara says
  May 26, 2021 at 3:22 pm
  She is a special girl. We always try to find the balance between physical and emotional care. It is definitely important to make sure we monitor her feet, but they have seemed less swollen with her additional walking. We do generally like to let them be and choose their actions, but giving her more choice lately has been a good thing.
Nancy Shaw says
May 26, 2021 at 3:14 pm
LOVELY !!!
Beji says
May 26, 2021 at 3:33 pm
She is magnificent in every way! Amazing pic!
Wim says
May 26, 2021 at 5:16 pm
She moves with heart and soul. Wonderful picture with lot of magic. ??❤️
SHEILA says
May 26, 2021 at 10:12 pm
OH GREAT LIL ❤️?LADY IS GETTING MORE STIMULATION AS IM SURE SHE HAS MEMORIZED ALL THE TREES ETC IN 1,2,3! THIS NEW ADVENTURE IS GREAT FOR HER! SHE CAN SMELL THE OTHER GALS SCENTS AND MAYBE DESIRE TO GET FRIENDLIER WITH THE OTHER GALS!! HOPEFULLY❗️HOPING LADYS FEET IMPROVE MORE TOO IF SHE WALKS ALOT MORE PERHAPS SOAKS IN A THE POND TOO!! LOVE ❤️ THAT SWEET ?LIL LADY AND HOPE HER EMOTIONS AND DESIRES FOR FRIENDS IS IMMINENT??
Charlotte Hansen says
May 27, 2021 at 2:33 pm
This photo is so beautiful, my eyes won’t stop leaking! I just love Lady and feel so bad for her when the others are with their friends and she stays alone. This new step is so exciting! Thank you for all you do and all your hard work!
Anita Janusz-Wong says
May 28, 2021 at 1:53 am
I love all the girls!…It is hard not to! But Lady and Bambi are tiny weeny bit special to me because of their horrible past…Those images of Lady chained in that small box like enclosure for over a year will hunt me for ever…and Bambi, so fearful hiding behind that wall in her stall, head and ear picking out….heart breaking…so your photos and videos of them now, with sunsets and bird chirping and grass so tall it reaches the stars is just pure magic! THANK YOU!!!..xoxoxox
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  Sara says
  May 28, 2021 at 12:41 pm
  They are special ladies, for sure. We’re so lucky to witness their healing.
JoAnn Merriman-Eaton says
May 28, 2021 at 12:37 pm
A gorgeous photo of Lady. We humans want so badly for her to mingle and be friends with the other girls, so it is easy to think she is unhappy when she is alone. It is baby steps for this beautiful girl. If she is happy in her solitude, with freedom to choose time and place, that is all that matters.
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  Sara says
  May 28, 2021 at 12:42 pm
  What a beautiful and astute way to look at things. Thank you.

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