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Maia on the Move

Maia

We sometimes refer to Maia as being “all over the place,” and we mean that pretty literally. Maia is our only elephant with no physical limitations. Rana has her fused elbow, Lady has her feet issues, and Mara has a wrist deformity. But even by general elephant standards, Maia zooms. If she perceives breakfast is late, she will just walk to the barn to look for her meal, without any regard to the distance she has to cover. No matter what her location, it takes her just a little while to pop over, looking for breakfast. She’s just fast!

One recent day, Maia started the morning across the creek in 4 – in the furthest back pasture. A little while later, she had crossed back over the creek and was playing in the mud wallow. There, Maia spent some time with Rana and Mara. By dinnertime, she was next to Yard 1 (which is where Lady was). Immediately after she finished eating, she was off and running again.

Another day, Maia began her day near the barn but pretty quickly headed into Yard 5. By the time we went to drop off breakfast, she had walked through 5 and cut through Creeky Alley Gate to be in 4. When we were out for morning treatments, she was by the mud wallow in Yard 4. She ended up by the Square (where Yards 1, 2, 4, & 5 meet) for her bug spray and tick check. Rana and Mara were nearby at that point. After that, Maia was back by the creek near the East end of Yard 4. She showed up near the barn during Lady’s afternoon treatment. By dinnertime, caregivers discovered her in Yard 5.

Typically, when we go out to care for a specific elephant, we start at their last known location. Since we go out frequently to check on the elephants throughout the day, they are often still near the previous spot. Even if they aren’t, many times they moseyed away slowly enough that we find clues (such as dung and footprints) to figure out which way they went. With Maia, most days, if you start in her last known location, you are unlikely to find her… Unless, of course, she was last seen napping in a mud wallow or being a pond blob. In that case, she is generally exactly where she was last seen.

July 23, 2020

 

asian habitat ver 2

Comments(14)

  1. REPLY
    Jillyp says
    July 23, 2020 at 4:19 pm

    Hahaha, Maia so makes me laugh. She is wonderful and definitely the sporty lady and explorer of the sanctuary all rolled into one, what wonderful energy ❤️???

  2. REPLY
    Wim says
    July 23, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    She has an overloaded agenda. Being a very busy Elephant. But are you sure there’s really one Maia at the sanctuary. Could it be trickery like the two white rabbits. ???

  3. REPLY
    Paula says
    July 23, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    Que bendición saber que Maia tendrá una vida larga y saludable por delante!
    Ojalá fuera así para todas ellas, yo intento centrarme en lo positivo, siguiendo el ejemplo de ustedes ( Kat & Scott) pero recordar las limitaciones físicas de las damas, producidas por los humanos, me angustia y mortifica profundamente.
    Como se repara un daño irreparable?
    Me siento culpable, cuando se evidencia la secuela físicas de las damas y pienso:” Miren, esto nos hicieron los humanos…”
    Intento pero es muy triste.
    Perdón por mi catarsis. Esta publicación es sobre la vigorosa Maia!
    Me encantaría saber qué se siente tocar los simpáticos vellos sobre su cabeza ?

  4. REPLY
    Sidney Hodges says
    July 23, 2020 at 6:25 pm

    Wasn’t Maia confined in her last home? If she was, then she’s probably enjoying the freedom of movement & generating her own form of “exercise”. Good for her. Nothing like being an elle on the move.

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says
      July 24, 2020 at 7:50 pm

      She was chained on a farm that was owned by the lawyer for the circus. Both her and Guida were on chains, in a hotwire pen, separated by hotwire as well.

  5. REPLY
    Sherry says
    July 23, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    I see Maia, there she goes. She is on the move!??‍♀️??

  6. REPLY
    Bertica Valdes Suarez says
    July 23, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    I see a very determined look in her eyes hahahahaha like she has a list of things to complete, the delightful Duchess f Diligence.

  7. REPLY
    Sheila says
    July 23, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    Oh maia ?is a zoomer! That energetic engine she has her revs up to high gear‼️ im just wondering what sort of measurable distance sanctuary is??
    In circumference what would total of all yards be?

    • REPLY
      EleComposer says
      July 23, 2020 at 10:09 pm

      Yard 1 is 1.5 acres
      Yard 2 is 1.4 acres
      Yard 3 is 2.75 acres
      Yard 4 is 40 acres
      Yard 5 is 25 acres

  8. REPLY
    Susan says
    July 23, 2020 at 9:32 pm

    I notice you added the much-loved Itchy-Scratchy Tree to the map!! Thank you, it makes all the difference!! ?????? And Miss Maia, the butterfly, flitting and fleeting all over! She just has so many places that she loves and enjoys, and it is wonderful to see! Love the pic!! ❤️?❤️?❤️

    • REPLY
      EleComposer says
      July 24, 2020 at 9:09 am

      Good catch on the addition of The Itchy Scratchy Tree, Susan!

  9. REPLY
    Sallie Robbins-Druian says
    July 23, 2020 at 11:42 pm

    I love that miss maia is such a “mystery” girl! Whatta brain this gal has! I think that she loves to throw everyone off her track! What fun! Her daily adventures would make a great children’s book!

  10. REPLY
    Shirley Taylor says
    July 24, 2020 at 1:56 am

    Maia is the foreman checking around everywhere to make sure her humans are doing there job properly. Xx

  11. REPLY
    Rosie P says
    July 24, 2020 at 5:44 am

    Follow me, follow, down to the hollow and there we can wallow in glorious mud!” Unless I’m somewhere else”, says Maia. “So catch me if you can!” LOL!
    Magnificent Maia is making full use of all the facilities. Fabulous post!

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