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Recently, during the evening, we heard some trumpets and rumbles and then one really big trumpet. Since the herd dynamics have been shifting fairly dramatically, and what we heard wasn’t the typical sort of vocalization we hear at night, we thought it would be a good idea to go down the hill and check on things. 

We found Maia and Bambi in Yard 5, standing side by side. They were both very calm and easy, with Bambi making nice, soft rumbles. Maia seemed delighted to have someone to explore with at night and it was good for Bambi to have encouragement to check out new areas after dark. While we still don’t really know what is behind the big shift with Bambi, it’s becoming evident that Maia really wants to be there for her. Seeing the two of them standing together and getting sleepy was a lovely moment to witness.

Knowing that things were just fine, Scott told the elephants that he was about to leave. Maia did a “trunk pop”, which is a hollow sound that occurs when an elephant strikes the ground with her trunk, and some more soft rumbles. As he was driving away, he saw that both girls were settling back in, almost shoulder to shoulder. 

P.S.: Don’t forget to check out our new Captive Elephant Welfare Fund and learn how you can make a difference for captive elephants around the world! Find out more here.

Photo of Maia and Bambi illuminated by the 4-wheeler headlights