Blog

Lady’s Choice

The Sanctuary may be in a standard time zone (AMT), but we are actually on Elephant Time. Our followers frequently ask us if the elephants always come over for treatment, and what we do if they don’t come to us for medical treatments.

We try to oblige them and cater to their desires as often as possible. They’ve had so much taken from them in their lives, so we are happy to revolve around them. We dislike having to regiment their days at all, but they are also older elephants and frequently need medical care.

Lady sometimes needs daily foot soaks. We don’t ask her to come over for foot soaks. She knows they happen after breakfast and include at least two buckets of fresh fruit snacks – sometimes more. Most mornings, she finishes her breakfast and walks directly over to the jacuzzi chute. She is frequently ready for her foot soaks before we finish preparing for her to come in.

Some days, she doesn’t come over to the barn or treatment area. If she doesn’t, we assume it is a conscious choice. Lately, as we’ve had chilly nights and warm days, she’s taken a couple of mornings off – she spends that morning time grazing in the sun with a smile on her face.

Lady’s treatments are comprehensive – we soak, we scrub, we clean, we apply sprays and ointments—so taking a day off truly isn’t that big of a deal. It’s part of looking at the big picture – she spent decades not being able to graze in the morning sun, so, if that is what she wants to do at that moment, she should. We are more than happy to revolve around her schedule.

On the mornings that she skips treatment, she usually gives us another opportunity in the afternoon. She usually comes for a drink (there are numerous water sources in other places) and goes to the barn door to come in. If she didn’t, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Training walls are built throughout the habitat, to allow for treatment to be performed away from the barn. Although we can’t do foot soaks out there, we can do her cleaning, scrubbing, spraying, and medicating.

If, during a time of active issues, Lady were to not walk over on her own for a couple of days, we would try to lead her back to the barn. When we would like an elephant to follow, we drive slightly ahead and toss fruit a distance in front of them each time or stand on the outside of the fence and do the same. They walk from treat to treat and slowly meander to the destination.

Video is of Lady enjoying a meal. While the lighting isn’t perfect, the video captures the serenity of Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. If you watch until the end (or skip ahead), you can see her rubbing her eye with her trunk – it’s cute.

June 8, 2020

Comments(14)

  1. REPLY
    Julia Mercedes Eden says
    June 8, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    How truly magical is this darling precious soul of an elephant ?❤️?? You’re such a charmer Lady and so independent now. SO many people around the world adore ? you ❤️?

    • REPLY
      Alejandra Enquin(,Sandy) says
      June 9, 2020 at 8:50 am

      .Son tan amorosamente humanos ,el Santuario es un lugar soñado ,Lady ,Maia,Rana y mi amada Mara corazon de melon dulce,son respetadas,cuidadas,sostenidas,comprendidas,amadas,no solo sus almas les agradecen sino las de millones de personas que miramos maravilladas lo que acontece dia a dia en el paraiso en la Tierra.?????

  2. REPLY
    Barb says
    June 8, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    Pretty as a picture in an art museum. Yep, Lady rubbing her eye . . . sweet

  3. REPLY
    Carol says
    June 8, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    That scratching her eye at the end is precious! That trunk is an amazing apparatus! LOVE HER WITHT THAT SWEET SMILE OF CONTENTMENT…

  4. REPLY
    JoAnn Merriman Eaton says
    June 8, 2020 at 5:05 pm

    Bless her heart. She is enjoying life at its fullest at her own pace.

  5. REPLY
    Patricia says
    June 8, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    Such a blessing! All of you! What a doll you are, Lady! I’m one of the zillions of people who love you. As usual, smoochies to infinity and beyond!

  6. REPLY
    Julie says
    June 8, 2020 at 7:11 pm

    She did get a good eye rub in. So cute, you’re right. Lady looks so healthy and strong. Just beautiful and full of life! Thank you! ❤️

  7. REPLY
    Sherry says
    June 8, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    Thank you for giving the elephants choices! It is FREEDOM too!!!!!??

  8. REPLY
    Lori Hoover says
    June 8, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    That trunk of hers is something. Even while she is eating, it is so busy, LOL She looks absolutely beautiful here, as does the Sanctuary.

  9. REPLY
    Lila says
    June 8, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    Lovely miss Lady. She deserves the world. Thank you for your attentive care and love.

  10. REPLY
    Paula says
    June 8, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    Oh mi dios!
    Lady está muy feliz?
    Lo dice todo su lenguaje corporal, está muy contenta!!!
    Me derrite de amor como se rasca el ojo con su trompa?
    Los elefantes hacen todo tan bello y cómico!
    Gracias ESB por devolverle la alegría a su vida?

  11. REPLY
    Heidi says
    June 8, 2020 at 9:02 pm

    She looks like she stuffs too much in her mouth and then has to chew with her mouth wide open! Take your time Lady, the food isn’t going anywhere! So cute

  12. REPLY
    Rosie P says
    June 9, 2020 at 2:45 am

    I really enjoy learning more and more each day about the individual character of the girls. It is very rewarding to see Lady casually enjoying her dinner in the Brazilian evening sun. No stress, just doing as she wishes in her own time. It kind of reminds me of that song, “busy going nowhere, isn’t that just a crime! I’d like to be unhappy but I really don’t have the time!” LOL! No time for unappiness now, sweet Lady!

  13. REPLY
    Ele Footprints says
    June 14, 2020 at 7:28 am

    This is so heartwarming! Thank you for all the treatment and care that you provide to Lady and all the other elephants. While reading the blog, I was very moved when you said “It’s part of looking at the big picture – she spent decades not being able to graze in the morning sun, so, if that is what she wants to do at that moment, she should. We are more than happy to revolve around her schedule.” That statement is so powerful because it reminds us where Lady came from and how captive elephants miss the simple things in life that would make them happy. This is why your work is so rewarding, to put a smile on an elephant’s face in a natural way is so precious ?????

Post a comment

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

Global Sanctuary for Elephants

  • PO Box 2426
  • Brentwood, TN 37024
  • (615) 435-9523

 

Stay connected with our herd

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.







MISSION: Protecting, rescuing, and providing sanctuary for elephants worldwide.

Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt, public charity status (EIN 46-3564818) and all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

© Global Sanctuary for Elephants. All Rights Reserved