Maia, Rana, and Mara Spending Some Time Together

Mara and Rana have been spending most of their time near the barn for the past few weeks. We usually discourage staying near the barn for more than a few days, but with Mara’s continued intermittent appetite, we have been encouraging her to eat more than we encourage her to wander.

Maia doesn’t spend time by the barn very frequently, but she likes to stop by periodically. She seems to enjoy having time in the medical treatment chute -and the treats she receives while she’s in there. With Mara and Rana spending so much time near the barn, Maia has been seeing them less frequently.

Maia recently stopped by the barn for the day and shared Yards 1 & 2 with Mara and Rana. At first, Maia walked past them to eat all the food scraps in the yard. Once the yard was sufficiently “cleaned,” she spent some time in the mud wallow in Yard 1. That’s one of her favorite mud wallows, and it’s also one of our largest. While visiting the barn, she also went inside the treatment chute for positive attention and cranberries. By encouraging her comfort with the chute, she will be content to enter if any medical issues arise requiring it.

As the afternoon progressed, she began showing more interest in Mara & Rana. Maia and Rana spent time together, touching and acting a little silly. It was a noisy afternoon, and Mara made her repertoire of exciting vocalizations. The three spent a lot of time near each other. All three seemed pleased with social time. It’s good for Maia to have time with other elephants. When she shares Yard 4 or 5 with them, she will spend varying amounts of time with them – sometimes twenty minutes, sometimes a few hours. Maia will also spend her time visiting other areas within the yard and isn’t with them all the time. She seems to like spending time with the others even though she doesn’t always want to be with them. Even though they aren’t best friends or joined at the hip, their relationship is still significant to each of them. It’s important to Maia emotionally to spend time with them. It seems to feed her soul.

Photo of Maia (front left), Rana (middle, behind Mara), Mara (right)

November 10, 2020

Comments(12)

Julie says
November 10, 2020 at 4:56 pm
A good reminder for me to enjoy the girls’ journeys. They have the opportunity to grow as individuals and as herd members. They are in a big, beautiful, and evolving process setting. Thank you, GSE. Also, I love the Rumblings!
nancy sowersby says
November 10, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Where is Bambi?
- REPLY
  Kat Blais says
  November 10, 2020 at 6:50 pm
  This day she was in yard 5. They all take turns socializing.
SHEILA says
November 10, 2020 at 5:07 pm
GREAT NEWS‼️ IM ALWAYS WORRIED MAIA WAS GETTING TOO SOLITARY! YES SHE LIKES RANA NOW! THEY HAD ONLY EACH OTHER IN GRIEF BONDING AFTER BOTH LOST THEIR BFFs ‼️ BECAUSE MAIA ?IS SO SMART I WONDER IF SHE WAS TELLING RANA AND MARA. “BAMBI? IS LONELY AND WANTS GROUP ❤️LOVE❓ I JUST PRAY THESE 5 ?????LADIES CAN ALL BE TOGETHER SOON! THEY R SO ❤️SWEET AND LOVELY?
AND I HAD A VERY GOOD ?CHUCKLE HOW MAIA GOES INTO MEDICAL SHUTE TO GET CRANBERRIES ?AND TREATS AND CLEANS UP THE YARD FROM UNEATEN FRUIT?
Barb says
November 10, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Sweet fuzzy top Maia hanging out with friends! Love the girls!
JoAnn Merriman Eaton says
November 10, 2020 at 6:37 pm
No big surprise Maia scarfs up the yard for leftovers!! With each post, it is clear how each one of their individual personalities is developing, and also how their social interaction as a group is progressing. Another note….I received my Global RUMBLINGS newsletter today. The Ramba at Rest article was beautiful and moving. It brought tears for this girl that had such a short respite at GSE. Yet she did pack so much into that short time, and that I am thankful for.
Sallie says
November 11, 2020 at 12:15 am
There is nothin’ like a good mud wallow to clear the air and the brain . . . Way to go, Miss Maia!
Bo says
November 11, 2020 at 1:22 am
Even though some prefer to be on their own, I’m sure it is always comforting for them to know they can be together when they want to, or at least can get very close to each other at the fences to check up on each other.
Most of all to check if nobody is getting treats behind their beautiful backs 🙂
arie says
November 11, 2020 at 2:43 am
Just as it is with humans, a little socializing with just an acquaintance or a superficial friend, just talking about the weather, can be all we need at the moment. It is the same amongst elephants, I suppose.
?❤️
FRANCINE FORD says
November 11, 2020 at 10:32 am
Great to see these 3 lovely Gray Ladies together! How wonderfully free they ALL are in Sanctuary that they have the right to pick & choose either being together or going solo. I ❤ reading about them & all their antics. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!
?❤?❤?❤?❤?❤
Rosie P says
November 11, 2020 at 10:40 am
It’s good to know that Maia socialises with her sisters from time to time. She has not had a great friendship since the passing of beloved Guida but she does find some special time with the others. I worry about Mara’s appetite and pray this will pass eventually though it does seem to be continuing. I know she is in good hands.
Yet another fabulous photo of the three together…they are so beautiful…..angels in their paradise!
Pegg says
November 11, 2020 at 5:07 pm
I just love reading about the girls! Thank y’all for sharing them with us. I always follow each transit story intently. I “pray” them home. Much love and continued blessings

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