Blog

Lady Showing What She Is Capable Of

Lady

As we have mentioned, Lady’s comfort level is cyclical – and some days are better than others. We work on her feet most days, with a foot soak and topicals in the morning, and scrubs and topicals in the afternoons.

The other day, while doing her afternoon treatment at the training wall in Yard 3, we asked for her foot. There is a footrest welded into the bars of the fence, at the “perfect” height for an elephant to rest their foot while we scrub, trim, inspect, or file. She picked up her foot, and, rather than putting it in the usual spot, she went the next section higher. This bar is relatively close to her chest height. It wasn’t something we asked for, but it’s a good muscle stretch, and she seemed comfortable. Apparently, it is where she felt her foot should be that day. We cleaned her foot, used the cold-therapy laser, and applied sprays while she comfortably propped it up nice and high.

When elephants with physical compromise do things like that, it makes us laugh a little. We have had people who worked with elephants saying that, during initial training, their elephant couldn’t lift their foot to the stool or the bar. If an elephant is in critical condition, this may be true, but most of the time, the elephants are playing their humans. They only lift their foot partway, and they still get treats, they act like it’s difficult, and they get praise and treats, all the while they are quite capable of lifting their foot that high and beyond. We have seen elephants pretend they can’t do a behavior with one person, only to have someone else walk up and they do it right away. They are smarter than many people give them credit for.

Elephants are very good at training their humans, and sometimes we let them when there’s no harm. But Lady is the kind of elephant who wants to show what she is capable of. Her feet may not be perfect, but she is strong, agile, and knows how to get extra handfuls of Froot Loops and lots of smiles. ?

July 4, 2020

Comments(15)

  1. REPLY
    Nancy Shaw says

    I LOVE HER !!!

  2. REPLY
    Wim says

    Wonderful picture Your Ladyship. I presume you’ve been secretly training to impress everyone. Well done and yes you make the whole world smile and lovely rosy. ??

  3. REPLY
    Gramma Tammy says

    Smart is an understatement wow these girls are just amazing ??

  4. REPLY
    Gillian Gandy says

    Dear sweet Lady you try so hard and I’m so proud of you.With lots of love from your English momxxx

  5. REPLY
    Ann-Marie Jacobs-Brown says

    Me, too!!!

  6. REPLY
    Ann-Marie Jacobs-Brown says

    Totally agree 🙂

  7. REPLY
    Allison Guy says

    Love the updates on all your elephants. Must be very satisfying work!

  8. REPLY
    Renee' Killian-Zeiger says

    Uh yeah….well from a human lady to elephant Lady, I’d lift my foot over my head for FRUIT LOOPS! Loved them as a child, love them as a treat with a cup of milk as a grown up! Heck, now I’m hungry for sone Fruit Loops. Guess I gotta go to the market now!

  9. REPLY
    SHEILA says

    bravo sweetlil ?lady u have shown you are strong and resilient and perhaps you are eager to ger more live and treats from those humans who are chatting. With you and doing your treatments well lady we know ur a smart gal ansd you r really doing no wrong in anyway so i say just do as you like! Scots gang encourages this! So if you want to play tricks you do it sweety?? dont tell them but it keeps th caregivers on their “toes” too

  10. REPLY
    Paula says

    Lady es adorable?
    Toneladas y toneladas de elogios, mimos y golosinas!

  11. REPLY
    Angelina Souren says

    She’s quite a character, with a very clear mind of her own, and I love her photos!

    I rehab the occasional pigeon now that I no longer have any animals of my own. I currently have one who behaves like a (tame) parrot to some degree, which makes me wonder if perhaps she was handraised by humans. They tend to come and find me these days if they need help, these critters. Some stay for a few days, others for much longer.

    Enjoy your day!

  12. REPLY
    Carey says

    Super smart dear Lady .

  13. REPLY
    Rosie P says

    I love these girls. With the traumas of the past having made such a significant mark on them, they still amaze us as their characters really begin to surface. Such stoicism, such majesty but a silly side and a crafty side to show us humans who cry tears for them that there can be much joy, too.

  14. REPLY
    Shirley Taylor says

    I have always said we can learn so much from elephants and now reading your blogs on them I am learning. You are one step ahead of them I think just dont let those ladies know that though haha!! Love them Love you all for what you have done for these girls the difference in them is brilliant in the short time they have been with you. xx

  15. REPLY
    Terry Feleppa says

    Love those Lady steps!!!! She Rocks and I do believe we are all a bit smitten for her❤️

Post a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.