Those of you who saw Pocha disassemble the water pipe in the barn just after her arrival, before she even left the container, might have figured out that she is interested in how things work, but doesn’t have a lot of savvy in how she goes about figuring it out. Sometimes that means she breaks things, but in an innocent way. She’s not being aggressive or trying to damage anything significant, but instead being curious.
You can see these tendencies in Pocha by the way she breaks branches. She isn’t really familiar with how to break a branch, and she’s going about it in a pretty ungraceful (although charming) way. From what we’ve seen, that tends to be her mode of operation at the moment.
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Patricia says
May 24, 2022 at 2:13 pmPocha and Guille are like newborns–they have no experience of the world. It’s heart wrenching. I am just so beyond grateful they are finally here. You go, Pocha! xoxoxo
JoAnn Merriman-Eaton says
May 24, 2022 at 2:18 pmPocha! You amazing sweet, intelligent, inquisitive girl. Learning how to break branches, and soon to teach Guillermina the same. You are the same smart girl that used the palm tree as a tool to dig with in the yard area. I notice Guillermina is saying ” come on already, enough with the branch, let’s go”!!!!!
Julie says
May 24, 2022 at 2:21 pmA perk of P & G not wandering far off yet is that we get lots of videos of them. I love it. By the way, what yard are they in now? And if you all have time, would you post the map of the yards again, please?
Kat Blais says
May 24, 2022 at 2:59 pmthey are in yards 1, 2, and 3. I’m not sure if we have the map somewhere on the website, but I don’t believe we do.
Melinda says
May 24, 2022 at 2:39 pmPocha has to make up for 50 years in captivity, with no ability to learn how to handle her environment. But she’s a fast learner and will soon be teaching daughter Guille the ropes! Love you baby girls!
Katie Howard says
May 24, 2022 at 2:55 pmIt is so AWESOME that she has things in her environment to explore (& break!). 🤗. She’s making her own enrichment toys! ❤️
Katherine says
May 24, 2022 at 3:26 pmWonderful to see, enquiring and curious!
Zoi Flores says
May 24, 2022 at 3:29 pmThe tittle is hilarious but it’s so interesting to see how Pocha tries. She might remember so little from the beginning of her life with her family. It’ll be easier for her and Guille when they start socializing with the other girls. 💖💖
Pam says
May 24, 2022 at 3:36 pmI love the innocence of her attempt! So child-like, So much to learn, so much to explore. Thank you for posting!
Janice says
May 24, 2022 at 5:07 pmI love that they have each other.
Tammy says
May 24, 2022 at 5:12 pmSweet Pocha gets an A+ for effort its got to be quite overwhelming in fact intimidating very scary actually not knowing how she’s supposed to do these things but she’s a fast learner and will be in tip top elephant mode in no time! It’s just such a wonderful heartwarming thing to witness as the girls go on their rebirth learning journey they are simply beautiful in every way 😘💞😘💞
Wim says
May 24, 2022 at 5:19 pmInteresting to know what’s next.
So lovely side by side.
Leslie says
May 24, 2022 at 5:23 pmI love this mom. She is an “I think it might work like this” kind of lady. I am so grateful and awe inspired for and by her stamina. Someday we may have the ability to point a camera at her and see word bubbles of what she is thinking and share our thinkings right back. Love the queen of “I got this”. Thank you as always for your TLC.❤️🐘❤️
Pam says
May 24, 2022 at 5:36 pmIn response to your comment, Kat, I’ve been wondering about the layout of the sanctuary, too. If there’s a map posted anywhere, I’d love to see it! Thanks.
Jillyp says
May 24, 2022 at 6:20 pmBeautifully curious 💕🐘🐘🌟
Anita J says
May 24, 2022 at 6:22 pmSo many sweet firsts for our girls..:-) It seems that Pocha is leading the way in those explorations. Thank you for capturing and sharing those moments with us. Love to see them scratching on trees and having a dip in a pond next. Those will be big milestones as well. Meetings with girls even over the gate will be huge and maybe even a bit scary event. Love checking every morning what is new in that paradise…:-) Would you say girls spend more and more time outside the barn? Do they still go back every night there? It still must be their save place for sure. And to think 2 weeks anniversary of their arrival is already approaching fast! Their confidence is unrecognisable from then and now..xoxox
Kat Blais says
May 24, 2022 at 6:42 pmthe girls spend almost no time in the barn now. when they realize it’s open, they go in, but usually only for a few minutes and then go right back out. when they hear us coming down for night feed they sometimes come to the barn, but last night they stayed in yard 3.
Maria Monello says
May 24, 2022 at 7:52 pmAwwwe..did anyone else see that?! Pocha was like “ohhh this thing hurt me” an Guille turns right around to make sure her momma is ok then tells her “ look momma these kinda look like that thing, but it won’t hurt you, stay away from that..little nasty thing you don’t hurt my momma” and all is well in Pocha and Guilles world 😂😂🌸🌺🐘🐘🌺🌸
Charlotte Hansen says
May 24, 2022 at 10:03 pmIt’s hard to fathom a grownup elephant trying to break a branch for the first time in her fifties–heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. God bless you all for giving these ladies such an opportunity for a new life!
Debbie Sides says
May 25, 2022 at 5:37 amCould she be any cuter? Love seeing Pocha discover her forever home in paradise. I can only imagine what Guille is experiencing in her new world. Every moment is truly amazing for both ladies💚
Janine Theresa Proctor says
May 25, 2022 at 7:36 amThey are both so cute, I love seeing them learn
Richard Chiger says
May 25, 2022 at 8:27 amHow do they learn what to eat, now that they have a choice to live in a quasi natural setting? Is it by trial and error and what tastes good and what doesn’t? Do they supplement a lot of their food by the wild growth?
Sara says
May 25, 2022 at 10:14 amWe’ve seen time and again that eating “browse” – or grass, tree branches, vines, etc., is remarkably instinctual for elephants. We’ve never had to teach an elephant to do it. It does take some time to mentally shift from a schedule of being fed at certain times and having the ability to eat whenever and wherever they want, and we do watch (and supplement their food when necessary) to make sure they’re eating enough. But the change in their approach to eating is near immediate. Most of what they eat will come directly from nature.
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