Maia has continued to be on the move – and to be a tank. It feels like every time we check on her, she’s somewhere else. It’s not uncommon to see her in Yard 5, across the creek in Yard 4, and near the back of Yard 3… all in the same day. While we aren’t seeing her near Bambi, Rana, and Mara, we know that she is passing by them throughout the day, just from noting how she is moving around the property.
When Maia is on the move, she isn’t just strolling around paths. She tends to go whichever way she wants to go and, unlike our other residents, doesn’t always pick the easy way. She takes hills like no other Asian elephant we have known. Her “shortcuts” may be a direct line from Point A to Point B, but they sometimes involve going both up and down somewhat steep embankments. It’s impressive. Often, when we watch her climbing hills, we are amazed by the strength and power we see behind her movement.
Her tendency to take a direct path shows she isn’t intentionally avoiding the others, even if it means she isn’t intentionally seeking them out. We suspect that, at some point, Maia will be ready to try to socialize again with them. For now, we are happy to see signs of her passing near them and moving freely around the habitat however she wishes. We don’t hear much commotion or trumpeting as she moves, so we assume that her time near the others is relatively calm. We have also seen that sharing space with the others hasn’t deterred her from pond blobbing. The act of being a pond blob – to nap, lying down, submerged in water – is a vulnerable position. Maia continues to make herself vulnerable in that way, which is a good sign of a certain level of comfort around the others.
Photo of Maia exiting the pond in Yard 5
Comments(14) 















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Cintia Abney says
April 14, 2021 at 3:55 pmI imagine her legs have a very good muscular tone! She is beautiful and she feels so unthreatened that she can blob for hours without a companion to watch for “danger” while she skeep ❤️?
Carol says
April 14, 2021 at 4:13 pmLove our Maia girl???
John says
April 14, 2021 at 4:18 pmI’m no expert but that looks like one happy, contented elephant.
Sallie says
April 14, 2021 at 4:24 pmI LOVE the “Pond Blob” reference! Brilliant, and so is Miss Maia . . . She is definitely an “Independent” but caring creature! An unusual, and precious personality. You just keep doin’ your own thang, Girlfriend! You’ve already won the Elephant Olympics climbing hills, and we do get and appreciate, your athletic nature. Your Gal Friends respect your independence and admire you, even from a distance. You are just a butterfly that takes her own path, as the breeze directs you . . . Keep it up, Gorgeous Girl!
Carole Kramer says
April 14, 2021 at 5:18 pmMaia charts her own path through the sanctuary and through her life. She’s so amazing in her strength of character as well as body. What a gal! Love her to the moon and back to the pond! ??
Audrey says
April 14, 2021 at 5:34 pmI think something in her past gives her reservations about other elephants. When she’s ready she’ll seek out their company. Until “you go Maia” finally be yourself. ❤️ ?
SHEILA says
April 14, 2021 at 5:57 pmYES! MAIA ?❤️IS A VERY CHUNKY BUT SHE IS ALSO! SIGHSEEING! TOURING! EXERCISING! CHECKING THE TREES!?? BIRDS?! PONDS!? CREEKS! THINK MAIA IS ACTIVE BECAUSE SHE IS LONEY FOR A FRIEND! SHES KEEPING HERSELF BUSY BECAUSE THE OTHER. 3 GALS DIDNT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO HER! LADY IS FEARFUL! SHE MAIA HAS NO ONE! I THINK ESSENTIALLY SHE IS HAPPY AND CONTENT BUT SHE STILL GETS LONELY AS SHE HAD GUIDA FOR 40 YRS! I HOPE SHE CHOOSES THE 3 LADIES GROUP SOON‼️
Sara says
April 14, 2021 at 5:59 pmMaia and Lady both seem content at the moment. If and when they are ready to join the others, they will.
Sherry says
April 14, 2021 at 6:15 pmThis is girl power!??????
Pat says
April 14, 2021 at 7:44 pmLove to see her so content, exploring in her new home
Thanks so much for sharing. Love all these girls ?
Katie Howard says
April 14, 2021 at 8:24 pmSuch a Water Baby! ❤️?❤️
Charlotte Hansen says
April 14, 2021 at 10:28 pmLovely photo of beautiful Maia!
Carey says
April 18, 2021 at 3:55 amLovely to get more news of our Tank / Pond Blob, on her journey, delighted to hear of her hill climbing. Didn’t Guida have a reputation for taking the challenging routes also?
Kat Blais says
April 18, 2021 at 9:49 amYes, she did. Although Maia is built much better for it. 🙂
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