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Maia’s Lovely Eye

January 16, 2026

Maia has a calm-yet-playful demeanor. She seems to know when it’s time to act silly and, alternately, when it’s time to bring an easygoing vibe to the group. She has no problem being the leader when the moment calls for it, but she seems generally just as happy to stick by Bambi’s side and act as a gentle guide. Maia’s eyes range from very soft to wide-eyed and spunky (she is known for her playful side eye), but she tends toward soft when she’s around Bambi. Here, as she walks toward her friend, you catch a glimpse of her relaxed gaze–plus, you get a good look at her stunning, long eyelashes. 

The two girls were snacking on a stash of hay that had been left by caregivers in the habitat. It’s just a little bonus surprise for them to find as they explore. Guille was away, perhaps on her own hunt for treats or a few bites of tree bark. (She’s the only Asian elephant here who regularly strips and eats bark from the trees.) The three elephants no doubt reunited not too long after, since they tend to touch base throughout the afternoon. There’s nothing like watching elephants simply be elephants every day.

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Comments(8)

  1. REPLY
    Sherry says
    January 16, 2026 at 3:22 pm

    Hey Maia, you are beautiful. I love elephants and wish to talk to you and pet you. I watched a really good
    nature program recently about elephants in Amboseli Africa. It was so interesting . There was an entire
    herd; adults, teenagers, and baby elephants. There were some elephants with huge tusks they are called
    tuskers. I learned the matriarch leads her herd to water and food. I hope you love your life at the sanctuary!

  2. REPLY
    Ada says
    January 16, 2026 at 7:08 pm

    Lovely eyelashes indeed! This is the way they should all live…free🥰

  3. REPLY
    Bonnie says
    January 17, 2026 at 2:58 am

    The girls are looking good Sara what’s Maia’s secret to those long eyelashes those are just perfect

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      January 17, 2026 at 1:06 pm

      I think she might keep her beauty secrets to herself!

  4. REPLY
    Wim says
    January 17, 2026 at 4:01 am

    Maia, the perfect guardian angel. What a luck to walk in your herd. 🫶 🐘 🤗

  5. REPLY
    Richard Chiger says
    January 18, 2026 at 11:35 am

    Maia has so much depigmentation. That, according to the natural history books, is mostly relegated to elephants from Sri Lanka. However I have seen Asian elephants from south India and Thailand with tremendous depigmentation. The elephants from Sumatra supposedly have the least. Does anyone know from where Maia was originally stolen?

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      January 18, 2026 at 2:04 pm

      No, her paperwork is limited and we can’t really say.

  6. REPLY
    Beji says
    January 19, 2026 at 9:34 am

    She IS stunning! As all the girls are!!

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