Rana Steals From Bambi

Rana will sometimes “share” Mara’s food, but in a very respectful way. When we hand something to Mara that she doesn’t want, she will hand it back to us or drop it. Sometimes, once she’s done eating the “good stuff,” Mara will go back and eat the food she dropped. Occasionally, Rana will walk over and innocently stand next to Mara, taking the food that Mara lets fall to the ground.

One recent day during dinner, Mara, Bambi, and Rana were lined up in that order along the fence. Rana finished eating first and walked toward Mara, which involved walking past Bambi. Bambi saw Rana walking her way, grabbed as much grain as she could in her trunk, and then tried to hold onto her bucket as well. Bambi couldn’t quite figure out how to grab her bucket with a trunk full of grain, so she stepped on her bucket instead. Squishing her bucket wasn’t our favorite choice, but so it goes. Bambi’s behavior didn’t deter Rana, who then tried to take a bit of grain cradled in Bambi’s trunk on her way to Mara. Once Rana made it to Mara, she was very polite and respected Mara’s boundaries by only taking what Mara dropped.

This was Bambi’s first experience here (that we have seen) with another elephant trying to “share” her food. Rana, of course, isn’t aggressive about it, but is an opportunist. While Bambi still has a clear preference for Mara, she will occasionally walk away from Mara to graze, hang out in a different area, or be closer to Rana. Bambi and Rana’s relationship continues to deepen, and they seem to be very comfortable around each other. While Bambi still is observant of Mara, she tends to let go with Rana, and the two get silly together at times.

Photo of an innocent looking Rana, with Mara on her left, and Bambi just behind her.

Comments(18)

John says
February 20, 2021 at 1:05 pm
Dear Elephant Whisperers,
Keep up the great stories. These girls are making me smile.
Cintia Abney says
February 20, 2021 at 1:11 pm
Lol why you give less food to Rana ? (just kidding)
Made me laugh that Bambi knew Rana’s intentions and tried to protect her food ? But I take that Bambi does not get upset with Rana, who may know very well Bambi’s good nature
Tracy says
February 20, 2021 at 1:21 pm
❤️❤️❤️
Julie says
February 20, 2021 at 2:11 pm
Rana you are so beautifully elephant! This is the stuff of sanctuary!!! Love it!
Lois Steinberg says
February 20, 2021 at 3:10 pm
Wonderful elephant adventure story telling!
Nancy Shaw says
February 20, 2021 at 3:11 pm
Who needs to put on weight?
- REPLY
  Kat Blais says
  February 20, 2021 at 3:25 pm
  At this point, both Bambi and Mara. Rana has become a little chunky with all of the extra feedings and how she ‘shares’ on occasion. It’s mostly from cleaning up after the other two have walked away from whatever they don’t want.
Cintia Abney says
February 20, 2021 at 4:45 pm
I put an angry face by mistake !
I only have ❤️ And ? for the girls.. can you remove it?
- REPLY
  sara says
  February 21, 2021 at 2:40 am
  We took away the sad face. We know you only have love for our crew!
SHEILA says
February 20, 2021 at 5:39 pm
OH MY SUCH A STORY I LAUGHED AT THIS BIG ?BAMBI!! I CAN JUST SEE THIS UNFOLD! BAMBI JUST DIDNT KNOW HOW TO USE HER BODY AND STAND OVER HER PAIL SHE JUST SQUASHED THE PAIL AND STOOD ON IT SO RANA COULDNT GET ANY GRAIN??. OH BAMBI THIS IS A CLASSIC ❗️ NOW RANA? IS A SCAVENGER HUNGRY BIG AWESOME LADY! BUT SHES GOT THE PICTURE NOW BAMBI WILL CRUSH HER OWN BUCKET WITH THE GRAIN TO PROTECT HER FOOD❗️THIS IS VERY FUNNY??
Debbie Sides says
February 20, 2021 at 6:23 pm
Rana’s way of “sharing” food is delightful! They’re all so cute!
Bonnie says
February 20, 2021 at 8:23 pm
Silly girls I love these Story’s I really look forward to them everyday Thank you
Pam Knaggs says
February 20, 2021 at 11:21 pm
Love this!
Beji says
February 21, 2021 at 12:12 am
An opportunist. As much as I hate goggle fill in, I couldn’t even spell this!
Wim says
February 21, 2021 at 3:30 am
All Elephants are equal but some grab more food than others. Great story with much follow ups I hope.
??
Rachel says
February 21, 2021 at 5:51 pm
Hmmm…scenes of being a kid eating candy around older siblings just swept through my mind..? ❤️
Katie Howard says
February 22, 2021 at 4:33 pm
Rana is merely exacting her “extra pay”, for being the mediator! ?
On a more serious note, extra weight is never good. Is it at a point where Rana’s food will have to be limited?
Bambi cracks me up! ?
- REPLY
  sara says
  February 23, 2021 at 11:10 am
  Rana’s meals are already limited because we know she will most likely help herself to some of Mara’s stuff, but there isn’t much we can do at the moment. We have to give Mara extra hay, since that helps her put on weight the most. Bambi is still underweight, so she is fine eating some extra. Once Mara is in a better place with her weight, we can try some adjustments. But, at the moment, we can’t separate them for any length of time because Mara will just stop eating and wants to go back to her friends. We’re keeping an eye on everyone to see how things go.

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