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Rana Update

Losing an elephant is always hard – it’s hard on the caregivers, the supporters, but, most of all, it’s hard on the elephants left behind. Many of you saw that firsthand, reading our updates on Maia after Guida passed. It’s worth remembering that Maia and Guida knew each other for 40 years – they were together, sharing space, for decades, and, while they didn’t always get along pre-sanctuary, Maia simply didn’t know who she was without Guida. She’s still figuring that out a little. These things take time.

So, how is Rana? Truly, she’s ok. She’s sad, she’s quiet, and some days are better than others. All of that is to be expected. Not to minimize or trivialize her grief – it’s there, and it’s real – but even her rougher days aren’t that bad. On her quiet days, she still has silly and light moments. During treatment, she regularly makes her little squeaks. She clearly hasn’t lost herself in her sadness over losing Ramba.

She seems to want her space to process – which is something we’ve seen with many other elephants after losing a close friend. Unlike other elephants we have watched grieve, Rana never fully stopped being social – Rana is still checking in with Lady regularly, to see if Lady is ready to interact. As we mentioned yesterday, Lady is getting closer to the others, but still isn’t there yet; and Rana seems ok with it but also isn’t giving up on Lady.

When Rana & Maia meet up, they’ll spend a few hours near to each other. Neither is making an effort to stay close to the other, and Rana is just as likely to wander off from the interaction as Maia is, but there is something to be said for quietly grazing across from each other in peace.

January 8, 2020

 

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Comments(11)

  1. REPLY
    Maggie says
    January 8, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    Lovely Rana, you are a special girl. You miss your best friend Ramba but you are open to Lady who is still a bit nervous about interacting with you. All in good time my lovely.

  2. REPLY
    Lori Hoover says
    January 8, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    I couldn’t love Rana more. I can see her still giving Lady a try in my mind’s eye, maybe a bit differently than before, but still giving it the try. I loved how Ramba did that with her, as well. I love that Rana is still trying. I love that Maia seems like maybe she understands a bit of Rana’s grief, and is just quietly there once in a while. I still will always have Ramba in my minds eye…….rolling her eyes at Rana’s attempts with Lady, but loving her and going along with her, and trying to be a comfort to all of the girls.

    • REPLY
      Lori Hoover says
      January 8, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      Also, that post was before I even watched the video, I was so excited for an update. Rana looks great, but yes, a touch subdued at times. My heart goes out to Maia as well, I’m hoping she is ready to turn a corner herself, as well. It’s understandable how different and difficult it has been for her. I truly hope those new ellies that may be coming over the year will be a help and a new start for all the girls.

  3. REPLY
    Muriel Servaege says
    January 8, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Thank you for the news.

  4. REPLY
    Carey says
    January 8, 2020 at 5:09 pm

    40 years is such a long time, a lifetime really, poor Maia, I was glad for your report on her the other day saying that she was getting her lovely self back, slowly. Rana maybe feels at a loss to start trying for a bf again, but she will, I so hope, find a close friend too, and yes there is something to be said about elephant company, even if not close company. We are so like them

  5. REPLY
    Kelejan says
    January 8, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    This does bring a little lump in my throat. But as you say; in their own time.

  6. REPLY
    Carmen Lucia Souza says
    January 8, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    Rana, you are my special beloved!

  7. REPLY
    sheila says
    January 8, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    OH DEAR SWEET RANA❤️ YES SHES GRIEVING! POOR DEAR! I THINK MAIA AND RANA R TALKING WHEN THEY MEET. MAYBE RANA IS CHECKING IN ON MAIA KNOWING DEPTH OF MAIA S GRIEF. 40 YRS OF BEING AROUND. DEAR ? GUIDA. PRETTY DEEP GRIEF! I SURE HOPE RANA CAN GET CLOSE TO LIL SOLITARY LADY❤️IT WOULD HEAL HER HEART! RANA IS THE MOST SOCIAL ?? AND IF LIL LADY JOINED HER I THINK MAIA WOULD BENEFIT TOO! IT MUST BE HEART WRENCHING TO U SCOTT AND KAT. THE GIRLS R 3 SEPARATE LADIES RATHER THAN A HERD OF LOVE FEST LADIES

  8. REPLY
    Tracy H says
    January 8, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    My ❤️ Still breaks thinking of Grandma Ramba and how much she is missed by her best friend Rana and all of us that loved her so much. Each one of the girls are dealing with separate losses/trust issues and hopefully in time they will become a herd. Can’t thank Scott & Kat for everything they do for these lovely ladies and appreciate all the updates We all love you both as much as the girls ?????

  9. REPLY
    Julie says
    January 9, 2020 at 4:49 pm

    Hello,
    Thank you for the post. I’m a long time follower/supporter of TES in Tennessee, and new to Global Sanctuary for Elephants. I’m hooked already. I’m not sure how I started receiving the first emails, but they seemed to start when Ramba arrived. I said to myself, Scott is facilitating miracles in another part of the world now! Scott is one of the biggest friends to captive elephants on the planet. God love him and his wife! Thank you guys. You are also facilitating cheers and tears for many elephant lovers whose lives didn’t quite make it to the giving level yours did. You’re out there doing it for us! All I can do right now is cheer you on and send what I can! Anyway, I started writing because I wondered about the video. Was the camera on the drone I saw in another video, or was someone carrying the camera on a four-wheeler? Just curious. Hopefully you’re still checking comments on this post. I see you’ve got at least one more out already. Love!

    • REPLY
      EleComposer says
      January 9, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      What a lovely comment, thank you! It is indeed a camera that we are using while on the 4-wheeler. Wall-E, our drone, got to sit this one out. 🙂 We are so happy you found us after having followed us at TES!

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