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Pocha: Like an Elephant In a China Shop

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.

Comments(23)

  1. REPLY
    Patricia says

    Pocha 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

  2. REPLY
    JoAnn Merriman-Eaton says

    Pocha! 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”!!!!!

  3. REPLY
    Julie says

    A 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?

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      they 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.

  4. REPLY
    Melinda says

    Pocha 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!

  5. REPLY
    Katie Howard says

    It is so AWESOME that she has things in her environment to explore (& break!). 🤗. She’s making her own enrichment toys! ❤️

  6. REPLY
    Katherine says

    Wonderful to see, enquiring and curious!

  7. REPLY
    Zoi Flores says

    The 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. 💖💖

  8. REPLY
    Pam says

    I love the innocence of her attempt! So child-like, So much to learn, so much to explore. Thank you for posting!

  9. REPLY
    Janice says

    I love that they have each other.

  10. REPLY
    Tammy says

    Sweet 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 😘💞😘💞

  11. REPLY
    Wim says

    Interesting to know what’s next.
    So lovely side by side.

  12. REPLY
    Leslie says

    I 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.❤️🐘❤️

  13. REPLY
    Pam says

    In 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.

  14. REPLY
    Jillyp says

    Beautifully curious 💕🐘🐘🌟

  15. REPLY
    Anita J says

    So 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

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      the 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.

  16. REPLY
    Maria Monello says

    Awwwe..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 😂😂🌸🌺🐘🐘🌺🌸

  17. REPLY
    Charlotte Hansen says

    It’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!

  18. REPLY
    Debbie Sides says

    Could 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💚

  19. REPLY
    Janine Theresa Proctor says

    They are both so cute, I love seeing them learn

  20. REPLY
    Richard Chiger says

    How 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?

    • REPLY
      Sara says

      We’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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