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Napping in the Mud Wallow

Maia

Maia has found a new favorite place for morning naps, and it’s the mud wallow in yard one. Recently, in the mornings, the team arrives at the barn to sometimes find Maia sleeping in the mud wallow.

Matheus, who is a (somewhat) new caregiver, was the first one to discover her pre-breakfast ritual. He arrived in the morning to see her in the wallow, lying down, asleep. Matheus started working here a little over a month ago and is an excellent addition to the caregiving team.

Since Maia has been frequenting the wallow near the barn recently, we are doing her health check-ins at the barn and throwing in a little maintenance footwork as well.

The other day, after she left the barn, she laid back down in the mud wallow for a post-care nap. We heard a strange sound a little bit later and looked over to discover the sound was Maia. She was still resting but had noisily flipped herself over to the other side like a pancake.

She never fails to bring a smile to our faces.

June 19, 2020

Comments(9)

  1. REPLY
    Rosie P says

    Welcome Mateus!
    It seems that mud wins the day again! Good for the skin and Maia knows it.

  2. REPLY
    Sherry says

    She loves and feels secure in her environment to lie down to sleep. I love knowing this adventure.

  3. REPLY
    Sheila says

    Maia! Ur a smart gal!??maybe you want some human company or you are checking on the others! Lady! Mara! rana anyway you truly love ur mud and water you look so young and im sure u have less bug bites too!!! Have great muddy day maia??❤️

  4. REPLY
    Wim Diepeveen says

    How very smart Miss Maia to give yourself mud baths. You will get younger and more pretty by the day. ??❤️

  5. REPLY
    Barb says

    Oh my, I will have a new name for Miss Maia Mudwallow. Kinda has a nice “ring” to it. She’s a star!

  6. REPLY
    Bernadette says

    You often comment about the Ellie’s napping. Do they lay down to sleep. Do they need a regular big sleep

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      they do lie down to sleep as well, it just depends on time of day and how tired they are. they seem to like to take little standing naps after breakfast, but we have seen all of them (except Mara- she is still new) lie down in the habitat to sleep. it is better for their bodies when they can lie down and sleep, but many elephant in captivity are not comfortable enough in their surroundings to put themselves in that vulnerable of a position. we had several elephants who arrived to TN after not lying down for decades, who laid down very soon after they arrived.

  7. REPLY
    Debbie Sides says

    Beautiful Maia and her love of mud. Love her cheeky grins.

  8. REPLY
    Carey says

    Finding out her secrets, what a lovely lady

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