Rana is getting hairy! She is 62, which means she has already outlived most captive elephants in the Americas. And now her body is doing some new senior things. Rana has always been oddly smooth and wrinkle-free, with very little hair, but she is getting noticeably fuzzy. Unlike humans, who tend to grow hair in new and different places as they age, Rana seems to be growing hair in “normal” elephant body locations, like her head and back. In general, how much hair an elephant has is related to genetics, and it tends to vary region to region as well as elephant to elephant.
Older elephants frequently begin growing hair on their chin or in their ears, and both those spots are still hair-free for Rana.
We don’t know if Rana will ever grow enough hair to compete with Lady or Maia, but we are watching closely!
photos: Rana in 2018 at the hotel zoo on the left, and Rana now at sanctuary on the right.
Comments(18) 
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Kathleen Ryan says
September 5, 2020 at 1:57 pmThank you for sharing the stories of these Elephants. They are wonderful. Thank you for rescuing them. God Bless you All !
Alana says
September 5, 2020 at 2:07 pmIs that mud or is she losing the pink on her trunk to?
Kat Blais says
September 8, 2020 at 7:03 pmShe’s still pink and spotty when she bathes herself or we bathe her, but as they would do in nature, she covers that up right away to protect her skin from the sun and bugs. 🙂
Nancy Shaw says
September 5, 2020 at 2:13 pmSHE LOOKS FABULOUS !!!!
Linda L. says
September 5, 2020 at 2:30 pmShe looks so much healthier and ‘aware’ in the Sanctuary photo.. perhaps it is just the nature of when each photo was taken, but I love her look at Sanctuary! Thank you so much for looking after these lovely Eles and sharing them with us.
Wim says
September 5, 2020 at 4:26 pmSurely it’s the healthy sanctuary environment that makes her body feel utterly happy. Rana you’re looking marvelous fuzzy or not.
???
Tammy says
September 5, 2020 at 2:34 pmRana looks great for a senior looking at her you would never know her age! So happy the girls are doing so well and can’t wait for the new girls to get there. Its so exciting with Bambi up next and more lined up patiently waiting. You all are such awesome people thank you for all the hard work you give to these beautiful gentle giants ???
arie says
September 5, 2020 at 3:15 pmWith or without hair, she is adorable ?❤️
Heidi says
September 5, 2020 at 3:37 pmShe looks so different! What was the discoloration on her face?
Sheila says
September 5, 2020 at 5:02 pmOh dear ❤️?rana! U r such a beauty hair head it not‼️ur spirit and demeanor r outstandingly beautiful?! I wish u were not as old as they state my dear u must live a very long time mz sweetheart❤️?❤️
Paula says
September 5, 2020 at 6:17 pmHermosa y dulce Rana, 62 años y te ves tan radiante! ?
No sabía su edad con exactitud… Cuanto respeto y admiración generan estas longevas y majestuosas criaturas!
Adoro la forma de sus cabezas y esos cabellos que las coronan, derriten mi corazón!
Rana te amamos mucho ❤
Bo says
September 5, 2020 at 6:38 pmOne of the greatest things about animals is : I don’t think they judge or care about the appearance, the looks. Bad skin, wrinkles, spots, a bad hair day, don’t think they care.
All good. They probably judge but differently.
Rana wears the fuzzy look fabulously!
Sallie says
September 5, 2020 at 11:04 pmThere is nothing wrong with a fuzzy wuzzy! So much more endearing . . . Especially with someone so sweet as rana . . .
Rosie P says
September 6, 2020 at 5:25 amRana is a beauty, inside and out. She looks very cute with her growing hairstyle.
I have often wondered why some elephants have this mottled skin appearance on their faces and trunks. Rana appears to have lost this since being at ESB….so it can change with time????
Kat Blais says
September 8, 2020 at 7:02 pmIt is usually linked to geographic homeland. There are physical features that are fairly distinct to where they were born. Rana is still pink and pigmented at the top of her trunk, but it’s generally underneath a layer of mud and dirt. As it should be. 😉 The girls do generally rinse, bathe, and clean themselves daily, but they also do what is natural, which is dust right after to protect themselves from the sun and bugs. Many captive elephants with noticeable pigment often live in enclosures that don’t offer them the ability to bathe and cover themselves in mud. It is one of the most basic needs that captive elephants are deprived of.
Rosie P says
September 9, 2020 at 3:28 amThank you so much for this info, Kat. I now understand that this mottled appearance has nothing to do with elephants being held captive for a long time. A sad fact, a travesty, that many in captivity don’t have the basic need of mud and dirt that is so essential for ellies and their well being.
These sensitive, intelligent creatures need/must have their freedom.
Debbie Sides says
September 6, 2020 at 7:18 amI always loved the fuzzy hair on top of their head! She is so cute!
Ruth Helena says
September 6, 2020 at 1:21 pmcom pelo o sem pelo
Rana comtinua linda!!
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