Lady is slowly coming along with her training. The beginning of target training with elephants can be difficult- often the hardest part. The base concept of target training is teaching an animal to gently touch a pre-determined body part to the target (e.g., touching a specific foot to the target pole, or their head to it). Once they understand that, you can extend the time they hold the body part there. After that, you switch out the target for your hand (much more convenient). But it all starts very basically and slowly.
Many circus elephants learn, from decades of training through dominance, that if humans put anything resembling a stick anywhere close to them, it is not a positive. When teaching an ex-circus elephant target training, you spend a lot of time getting them used to the pole (which looks like a giant q-tip), and convincing them it’s a good thing. Elephants all respond differently- Rana was scared of the target, even when we switched it to a small stick or took the ball off of the stick and used just the ball. She didn’t want to touch it- and now she is a total rockstar. Ramba enjoyed trying to hit the target before it hit her when she was first rescued from the circus. But eventually, they all figure it out.
We knew with Lady’s past tendency to hit that she might want to lash out at the target pole-but she hasn’t. She is very analytical with training, you can see her thinking, and also considering if she wants to play along that day. There are moments when she is a little wary of the target, watching to see what you do with it, but she hasn’t acted out.
That doesn’t mean Lady has gone very far in her training just yet. In initial training, the sessions are kept short and positive, so she enjoys them and continues to want to engage. They are full of watermelon and praise. The other reason for slowly progressing with Lady’s training is maintaining balance. Because of her need for foot soaks, treating her old abscess, and other care, we have to balance out how much time is spent on training and medical care versus allowing her to be an elephant, exploring, and building up confidence and a better relationship with Rana and Maia.
It’s also important that she sees us adjust her treatment based on her mood. Many captive elephants are used to humans not listening, usually because they don’t see or understand the more subtle signs. So we want to demonstrate to her that we respect her, what she is communicating, and her boundaries. When an elephant sees that you listen to them, they often start to find more healthy ways to communicate their mood and needs.
We try to do target training before Lady’s foot soaks. As we’ve talked about before, it’s also crucial that she is comfortable with human touch, in case of any future medical issues that may arise. We found that she is much more accepting of human contact when accompanied by a bath (which shouldn’t be surprising, she LOVES the water). Now, as part of her routine, we will give her a bath and segue into touching her. Right now we work with the safe end and affectionately touch her backside, her tail, her legs, and her back feet. We had a mini breakthrough this week when she picked up her back left foot and held it up for us! While the foot soaks and walking around the sanctuary help her feet, she still needs in-depth foot trimming. The first step to doing positive, much-needed footwork, is having her safely and comfortably present her feet.
In general, Lady seems more at ease with herself, and this helps all aspects of her being. On the days that she is happy and engaged with training (and the treats that come with it), we do a little more. She is beginning to understand us in the same way we are learning about her.
January 17, 2020
Comments(12) 













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Sheila says
January 19, 2020 at 3:49 pmYES LADY SURE NEEDS TIME TO LEARN TO COMMUNICATE THE BEST WAY FIR HER AND U CAREGIVERS! VETS ETC! HER PAST IN CIRCUS AND ZOO WAS MORE THAN HELLISH! VERY SADLY! THATS A REAL BRAVO ?TO SWEET? LIL LADY FOR LIFTING HER BACK FOOT UP BUT I SADLY THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN FOR A CHAIN?. HOWEVER ! BONUS! GETTING TO TOUCH HER BUM AND THAT LONG MARVELOUS ?TAILOH HOW I LOVE HER TAIL! I FIND IT SO AMAZING LADY HAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL “HAIRY TAIL WHEN 99%OF CIRCUS /ZOO ELEPHANTS ?HAVE A VERY SHORT HAIRLESS TAILS “. AND THAT BIG SMILE SHE HAS! OH MT WHEN LADY TRULY BECOMES FRIENDLIER AND MORE TRUSTING AND PLAYFUL. SHES GOING TO BE. A REAL? ROCKSTAR OF GESB?
Gillian says
January 19, 2020 at 3:51 pmThank you so very much for posting about Lady It looks as if she is learning to trust and cooperate looking forward to hearing more updates give her love from her English mom
Barb Wilson says
January 19, 2020 at 4:00 pmWonderful! You should consider writing a book about the care and accomplishments of elephant training. I have had Lady in my thoughts wondering how training seems to be going. Thanks for sharing!
Kelejan says
January 19, 2020 at 4:39 pmJust fascinating the lengths you go to make the elephants trust you. On a smaller scale when I acquired a special needs cat to look after, I also took it very slowly partly because I know how you deal with elephants. It works with most thinking creatures. Thank you all so much.
Rosie P says
January 20, 2020 at 2:54 amI totally agree. I have shared my home with rescued animals almost all my life but I have found such valuable info from the blogs of the girls and how their undividual needs are addressed. Space to grow and accept is so important and free from enforcement. This is true sanctuary. x
Shirley Taylor says
January 19, 2020 at 4:57 pmIt is so wonderful to get news like this on Lady, it just proves that kindness and love win over her trust in the end. After the life she and Maia and Rana have had before you rescued them I can see why it’s a slow process of getting their trust in you. Thank you for this good bit of news on the beautiful girls. X
Debbie Sides says
January 19, 2020 at 6:33 pmShe is just so cute and a smart cookie! Love little Lady bug. It will be so wonderful when she starts to hang out with Maia and Rana more. Plus Mara will become a residemt so the more the merrier; at their own pace of course!
Lila says
January 20, 2020 at 12:32 amVery interesting, thank you. Very professional. Lady is doing very well. What a unique personality each one has.
Carmen Lucia Souza says
January 20, 2020 at 2:51 amGO ON, LADY!!!!!!! You can believe: good humans exist!
Muriel Servaege says
January 20, 2020 at 2:09 pmLady looks so much happier now!
JoAnn Merriman Eaton says
January 21, 2020 at 12:23 amIt is truly remarkable the patience and knowledge you have. It takes tremendous insight to detect Lady’s moods and adjust her schedule of treatments accordingly. She is a complicated Lady! I can only imagine her thoughts now that she has freedom to choose instead at the end of a bull hook or chain. THANK YOU for these interesting updates.
Mark Skipsey says
January 21, 2020 at 1:21 amThank you for this fascinating insight regarding Lady’s progress.
I always marvel at how forgiving and trusting an elephant can still be, no matter what despicable acts humans have imposed upon them in the past,
Having said that, of course, none of that would be possible without your considerable patience and expertise!
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