Spending time with Rana at the hotel before her rescue didn’t give us many clues as to who she was. Most of her days involved eating, standing, or throwing something in demand for more food. Contact was not only something she did not desire, but she seemed uncomfortable with it. Rana was an elephant who was apparently a shell of her true self but, thankfully, she was ready for that to change.

At the sanctuary, Rana has become our loud girl. Joy is often brought to everyone’s day with the range of noises that come out of her and the volume in which she delivers them. If you hear a blaring trumpet up at the house, there is no question which elephant it is coming from. From her adorable squeaks to her fantastic deflated trumpets and her clear facial expressions, Rana shares her mood quite easily.

LESSONS LEARNED

Introductions with Maia and Guida went very well, but Rana became a little clingy and Maia and Guida sent a clear message that she needed to give them a little bit of space. Instead of continuing to be pushy with her affection, she is learning the importance of listening to your friends and respecting the wishes of others.

The wonders of nighttime were one of her first discoveries, and when you would drive out to check on her, she would be glowing with glee. Rana exudes utter bliss throughout the day, whether she is swimming, coating herself with thick layers of mud, or quietly grazing from all nature has to offer. She has become a sister to all of the other elephants at sanctuary, with her ability to guide them with her gentle sensibility. Perhaps because of her early difficulties making friends, she has helped Bambi and Guille learn to calm their energies and read the room when it comes to the where the other elephants are emotionally. She is now an expert at elephant dynamics and is a joy to be around.

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Read more about Rana in her diary.

FACTS