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Mara Says: That Chute Is Mine!

One recent morning, Rana, Mara, and Bambi were all near the barn. Rana has an uneven gait due to her fused elbow, so her feet tend to wear unevenly. This uneven wearing, as well as some nail issues she arrived with, means she generally needs a moderate amount of footwork for a sanctuary elephant. Because of the moisture in the air during the rainy season, pads and nails are softer and easier to work with than in the dry season. With drier months on the way, we took advantage of this morning’s visit and brought Rana into the barn for foot soaks and a little extra care.

Mara wasn’t exactly thrilled with this development. In recent months, Mara has spent many meals in the chute, due to her slow eating and need to ensure she ate well because of her GI issues. She’s now come to associate the chute with special attention, added  affection, and extra food. As part of this, she seems to have decided the chute was “her” space, and she wasn’t excited to see her friend getting the attention, affection, and treats she has come to expect for herself. Especially at meal time. We have several medical treatment chutes at the barn, and it was evident that Mara has a sense of entitlement to them all. 

As Scott was setting up Rana with her foot soaks, one of our caretakers, Shirlei, was feeding Bambi. Once Bambi had her food, Shirlei planned to head to Mara to give Mara her one-on-one attention and feeding. Mara became a bit impatient and began repeatedly vocalizing her readiness to eat – almost as if she was yelling for her food.

Everyone had to laugh at her demanding personality. She is undoubtedly an elephant who knows what she wants (everything) and when she wants it (now).

She eventually settled down and was satisfied to eat her breakfast in the yard with Bambi.  Once Rana was done in the chute, she joined the other two, and all three spent the day together.

Photo of Mara, with Bambi in the background.

Comments(15)

  1. REPLY
    Alana says
    April 27, 2021 at 4:40 pm

    Boy are they looking good, Happy & contented. Such confidence they are all showing. Sanctuary life is good!

  2. REPLY
    CAROL says
    April 27, 2021 at 4:44 pm

    hilarious!!!!!!! love her!!!

  3. REPLY
    Barb says
    April 27, 2021 at 4:47 pm

    Love that story!

  4. REPLY
    Pam Knaggs says
    April 27, 2021 at 4:59 pm

    Love the stories about the girls! Thank you!

  5. REPLY
    Cintia Abney says
    April 27, 2021 at 5:10 pm

    Haha Mara ? are you spoiled or what?

  6. REPLY
    Wim says
    April 27, 2021 at 5:13 pm

    Mara acting directly and ever so cute nobody messes with my chute.
    Just defending her privileges. ???

  7. REPLY
    Beji says
    April 27, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    Nothing wrong with wanting it all and wanting it now. She’s earned it.

  8. REPLY
    Julie says
    April 27, 2021 at 6:04 pm

    Nice poetry, Wim!

  9. REPLY
    Andrea Kerin says
    April 27, 2021 at 7:45 pm

    Soooo happy that she’s confident enough in her world to be demanding!

  10. REPLY
    SHEILA says
    April 27, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    WELL! THAT SWEET ❤️SPOILED ?MARA‼️ KINDA A ALOT BOSSY IT APPEARS!! MY GOODNESS!❤️ RANA ?IS GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK WITH MARA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SHARING ATTENTION❗️WOW IM SURPRISED MARA WAS ABIT UPSET WITH RANA? I GUESS STAFF IS GOING TO HAVE TO TALK TO RANA ABOUT HER NOT SHARING NOSSY ATTITUDE???. ITS GREAT THE 3 LADIES JOINED UP AND SPENT A GREAT DAY TOGETHER! I DONT THINK ELEPHANTS HOLD GRUDGES OVER FOOTBATHS…..MAYBE LADY? MAY BECAUSE SHE GETS SO MANY FOOTBATHS AND TREATS‼️

  11. REPLY
    Patricia says
    April 27, 2021 at 11:16 pm

    Like my favorite country song says (Martina McBride), “Oh-oohhh, can you see? She’s a happy girl; everybody knows that the sweetest thing that you’ll ever see in the whole wide world is a happy girl!” Smoochies to all!

  12. REPLY
    JoAnn Merriman-Eaton says
    April 28, 2021 at 12:31 am

    Mara! You go girl!!

  13. REPLY
    Tammy says
    April 28, 2021 at 7:13 am

    I was thinking that very same thing the girls do look fabulous! They are definitely being well taken care of thank you everyone you are doing a stellar job!???

  14. REPLY
    Bridget Lemen says
    April 28, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    Thank you for your delightful stories about all the elephants. I always look forward to hearing news from GSE.

  15. REPLY
    Anita Janusz-Wong says
    April 29, 2021 at 10:26 am

    That is funny! Love your blog with additional stories what is going on within this little family…..not so little now….growing slowly but surely….If anyone asked which girl is my favourite, I do not think I could answer that…Love all of them equally….they are all so different! and soooo special…:-)))

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