Mateus Watches a Game of Hide-and-Seek

Sound on for incredible rumbles!!

The other day, just before Mara’s recent gastrointestinal episode, mealtime started with Mara, Bambi, and Rana along a fence. While everything began pretty straightforwardly, at one point Mara decided she was finished eating, so she turned and walked away. Bambi followed her. Rather than stopping when Mara stopped, Bambi kept going. In a comedy of errors, all three ended up getting separated. Mara eventually squeaked for her friends, but instead of waiting for them, she immediately walked away after calling for them. Bambi and Rana reunited while searching for Mara. In the meantime, Mara arrived at a mud wallow near Mateus. Mateus heard Rana and Bambi rumbling and trumpeting in the distance, calling for Mara. Mara turned towards their vocalizations a few times but continued standing there quietly, occasionally dusting herself. Rana and Bambi continued searching for their quiet friend, and Mateus filmed Rana and Bambi finding Mara.

In the video, Bambi runs out first, Rana is second, and Mara is the one waiting.

Comments(14)

Nannette Stone says
March 21, 2021 at 3:20 pm
Oh those beautiful sounds. What a total joy to watch.
Kelejan says
March 21, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Love watching the active elephants in their Sanctuary, free to move where they will. Looking forward to mother and daughter finding freedom to come and go as they please and I bet it will take a while for them to discover that freedom.
Wim says
March 21, 2021 at 5:44 pm
This is heavenly heartwarming watching and hearing the caring sisters reunion. How rich life is with giant friends. Still sending love and strength to dear Mara. ???
Nancy J Shaw says
March 21, 2021 at 6:03 pm
Aren’t Reunions Funny!!
SHEILA says
March 21, 2021 at 6:04 pm
OH MY GOODNESS! THERE WAS A BIG MIXUP THAT DAY!! THESE GALS R SO SILLY ON THIS DAY❗️? MAYBE IT WAS AN INTENDED GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK?? ANYWAY ?MARA❤️ SEEMED TO START THE TRICKS! I THOUGHT IT WAS SO FUNNY SEEING BIG ❤️ BAMBI?. GALLOPING TO MARA WITH SWEET❤️ ?RANA ABIT BEHIND! ALTHOUGH RANA WAS RUNNING ALSO HER DEFICIT IS HER LEFT FRONT LEG BUT SHE MOVES PRETTY FAST!! IT WAS CLEAR TO SEE RANA AND BAMBI WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MARA! IM SURE THEY R ALL HAPPY TO HAVE FOUND EACH OTHER AND MARA WAS OK! FUNNY LADIES??
Carole Kramer says
March 21, 2021 at 6:11 pm
Amazing!! So wonderful to both hear and see them! Bambi can move!!! What joy it must be for them to be free to be ellies finally!!
Bill says
March 21, 2021 at 6:15 pm
An elephant version of Marko Polo! I love it.
Julie says
March 21, 2021 at 8:58 pm
Nice! You finally captured one of their “I haven’t seen you for 15 minutes, let’s celebrate rumble parties,” Love it. Thank you, Mateus!
Lila says
March 21, 2021 at 9:13 pm
Awwwww… i love love love them 🙂
Sunny says
March 21, 2021 at 9:49 pm
The three stooges ?
Sallie says
March 22, 2021 at 1:09 am
The hills are alive with the sound of Bambi, Rana and Mara! How wonderful they play “Hide & Seek”, with their beautiful rumblings . . .
Barb says
March 22, 2021 at 9:36 am
Absolutely crave videos like this! Precious comrades!
Katie Howard says
March 22, 2021 at 6:56 pm
You’ve talked before about how fast Bambi moves but seeing this video – wow! Impressive! ?. Love the “soundtrack”!
Carol in BC, Canada says
March 24, 2021 at 5:59 am
Wonderful – just, wonderful. Thank you, photog Mateus and (I’m guessing) author Kat, for capturing and sharing this lovely moment among sister-friends!

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