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Lady’s Sanctuary Time

In some ways, it feels like Lady has been here for much longer than she has. Part of that reason is how she has already shifted herself to “Sanctuary Time.”

Sanctuary Time is an innate understanding that, even when you have somewhere to be, you don’t need to hurry. Human time simply stops for the elephants. Once a new elephant settles in, they realize it’s ok to take their time, because everything is about them now.

Sanctuary Time means it’s ok to stop and smell. It’s ok to go the long way or the hard way because this clump of grass looks better, or for no reason at all. You can absolutely take a break because it would feel really nice to stand in the creek for a few minutes and play in the water. Part of our philosophy is not rushing the elephants; because it’s all up to them. This isn’t just an emotional philosophy, but a physical one too.

We are excited by (and encouraging) Lady’s desire to explore and embrace using the entire habitat. That sadly doesn’t change the severity of the condition of her feet. She needs regular treatments; and due to our protected-contact management philosophy, those treatments must occur at the barn. At some point, her feet will improve, and she’ll be able to go longer without treatment, but we aren’t there yet. Her feet are still at a place where they need regular, intensive care.

When Maia, Ramba, and Rana venture out, they come back on their own; but Lady doesn’t have that routine at this point. Usually our new arrivals learn to do it from the other elephants; because they choose to stay together. As Lady isn’t spending time with the other elephants yet, it’s up to the humans to teach her how to come back for treatment.

This means we spent all of yesterday afternoon coaxing her back to the barn. She did wonderfully, and she did it on Sanctuary Time.  She seemed to really enjoy yesterday’s meander back to the barn – and, yes, it was a meander, with plenty of breaks to stop and wander. There are no straight lines at the sanctuary for healing, or grief, or for walking back to the barn. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Just a note to say if you guys really like the videos and photos we’ve been sharing lately, it’s in thanks to FiLMiC Pro. They are one of the documentarians filming our recent elephant transports/rescues. During Lady’s rescue, Scott dropped his phone; and they generously left us their iPhone10 when they went back to the US. It’s a much, much better quality phone than what Scott had previously and it’s giving all of you better pictures and video, so thanks so much! We are constantly blown away by the generosity of everyone we meet. Thank you again, FiLMiC!!

December 18, 2019

Read more about Lady here →

Comments(11)

  1. REPLY
    Nishant Bhajaria says
    December 18, 2019 at 5:47 pm

    This is such joy. And, a special thank you to FiLMiC Pro. I am so glad helping elephants is such a global cause now. We need all the allies we can find.

  2. REPLY
    alana says
    December 18, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    Lovely Lady

  3. REPLY
    CyrAnn says
    December 18, 2019 at 5:51 pm

    Really, the first thing I look for on my computer in the morning is news from the sanctuary and updates on our special ladies!!!!
    It makes my day in a happy and positive way!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. REPLY
    Kelejan says
    December 18, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    She really is in elephant heaven now and I would love to be in her mind to she what she thinks of it all.

  5. REPLY
    Sheila says
    December 18, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    OH MY GOODNESS! LADYBUG? IS SURE INLOVE ❤️WITH HE STREAM AND THE ????JUNGLE!! SHE LOVES HER NEW LIFE, PERHAPS SHES NOT LONELY AT ALL FOR COMPANY OF HER OWN SPECIES! I PRAY SHE WILL WANT TO GET TO KNOW MAIA, ?RANA, ?RAMBA, ?BEFORE POCHA ?AND ?GMINNIE ARRIVE? SCOTT AS FOR THE LIL COAXING TRAINING JOB.! THIS WAS ENTIRELY NECESSARY FOR LADYBUG TO COME BACK TO THE BARN TO GET HER FOOT TREATMENTS! YES! SHE SURE NEEDS TI HAVE A REGULAR ROUTINE TO ASSIST THE INFECTIONS AND HEALING. IF U HAVE TO GO ON ROUNDUP OR CURTAIL HER FROM GOING SO FAR FOR AWHILE THEN THATS WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN! LADY WILL FEEL BENEFIT ON HER FEET AND BODY! UR MANDATE IS TO ALLOW HER HER FREEDOM! BUT IN THIS CASE WITHDRAWING FROM TREATMENTS AND BEING FRIENDLY WITH THE OTHER LADIES IS NOT ENTIRELY HELPFUL TO HER TOTAL FUTURE‼️ I WISH UR TEAM AND LIL LADY A GREAT OUTCOME…SOON! LOVE THE NEW VIDEOS SCOTT NICE NEW CEL‼️

  6. REPLY
    Barb Wilson says
    December 18, 2019 at 9:52 pm

    What a marvelous video! Watching Lady “cleaning” vegetation reminds me of a long ago video of how Guida used to do similarly. I still have great hopes that Lady and Maia will become close friends. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to see happy life in sanctuary.

  7. REPLY
    Lane says
    December 18, 2019 at 11:20 pm

    I wasn’t able to hear the sound so checked the video through facebook and the sound came through fine. Wonder what the difference is? There is something about hearing everything (or just the amount of quiet) that puts us right in Brazil. Wonderful.

    • REPLY
      Mark Skipsey says
      December 19, 2019 at 1:33 am

      I too can remember that video Barb!
      How I miss sweet Guida….. I must say though how lovely it is that everyone still remembers her with such fondness and records their memories for the rest of us to enjoy and reflect upon! ???

  8. REPLY
    catherine says
    December 19, 2019 at 8:05 am

    what a difference! the barren zoo enclosure vs. the lush greenery and freedom at the sanctuary!

  9. REPLY
    Sherry says
    December 19, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    Lady is really enjoying herself now at the sanctuary. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all for giving these beautiful
    elephants a loving and caring home! It is really wonderful watch. You are truly a beautiful bunch of folks.
    Thank you too, for sending those video softened so that we loving animal folk can watch them.

  10. REPLY
    Carol Anderson says
    December 20, 2019 at 12:12 am

    Lady is really enjoying roaming around the sanctuary. She. is making up for lost time an just being an elephant.

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