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Rana’s Invitation to Play

Frequently, filming the elephants doesn’t go as planned. This video is a great example of that. ? While most of the footage is unexpected close-ups of a charming Maia, Scott recorded Rana engaging in a behavior we have noticed a few times now.

A few times recently, as Maia has approached, Rana has done something we call “silly head.” It’s the head waggle and body shake at the beginning of this video. It is a play behavior, and it is her trying to engage Maia in play. Attempting to play shows Rana is feeling comfortable enough in their growing friendship to want to be silly in that moment. It indicates that Rana is not just receptive to Maia’s attempts at friendship, but that she is reciprocating as well.

For those who joined us after Guida passed away, it’s important to note that Maia has a silly side. Like much of Maia’s personality, her silliness is full throttle at times, and it can be a bit overwhelming to anyone not expecting it. We don’t know if Maia just hasn’t been in the mood or if she is holding herself back. It will be interesting to see just what Mara thinks of an over-the-top silly Maia when it happens.

In this video, Maia ignores Rana’s invitation to play. In Rana’s recent attempts, we have seen Maia respond and engage with Rana when she does this, but we haven’t seen her get silly back.

Maia is the one walking towards the camera (and then being a camera hog), Rana is the playful one, and Mara is a little further back.

August 18, 2020

 

Comments(12)

  1. REPLY
    Paula says
    August 18, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Hermoso video! ?
    Gracias por compartir.
    Muy agradable escuchar tu voz, Scott! Y ver a Rana jugar! Que gracioso !
    Me enamoré del ojo de Maia! Dios mío! Nunca había visto el ojo de un elefante tan de cerca!❤
    Muy bellos!

  2. REPLY
    Wim says
    August 18, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    Waiting for silly games competition. Hope they’ll join one fine day. Winking at the end is super cute. ??????

  3. REPLY
    Debbie Sides says
    August 18, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    Look at Maia’s beautiful eyelashes.

  4. REPLY
    JoAnn Merriman Eaton says
    August 18, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    It has been incredible to watch this friendship grow. From the moment these two first met with the trumpets, spinning around and squeaking to watch them now just makes my heart happy. I will never forget those first moments. I predict many more silly head games. Cannot wait to see them.

  5. REPLY
    Julie says
    August 18, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    I loved Rana’s silly head move, and what a great shot of Maia’s beautiful eye! It felt like looking in the eye of a whale. Gorgeous video!

  6. REPLY
    Lori Hoover says
    August 18, 2020 at 7:27 pm

    It’s amazing how much I felt Rana’s ‘silly,’ It made me literally LOL. Maia the camera hog has beautiful eyes, though, doesn’t she. I’m so happy it seems that all four of the girls are getting more and more comfortable with each other, being their selves, trying things with each other, and for each other and themselves.

  7. REPLY
    Nancy Shaw says
    August 18, 2020 at 7:59 pm

    Look at Me……..I’m sooo cute !! : )

  8. REPLY
    Sheila says
    August 18, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    Very sweet play silliness from rana ?to ?maia‼️ awesome they understand each other so well! Rana and maia have been acquainted a few years,, grieved guida and now they get along well showing rana reaching out to maia to play!? thats very welcoming I suspect rana knows maia is a great playmate so she just wants her around or rana is trying to get mara? to relax and play too‼️lovely to see this sillyn ess of ?rana‼️

  9. REPLY
    Bo says
    August 18, 2020 at 11:52 pm

    Love it, the interaction and the communication with each other and with Scott, all having a sunny time.
    The way Maia is walking straight to the camera, making sure she is having screen time!
    Even Marilyn Monroe couldn’t have done that better, Maia! 🙂

  10. REPLY
    Rosie P says
    August 19, 2020 at 12:23 pm

    Well, that looks like a great “getting along” day. Fabulous close up of magnificent Maia….wow, those eyelashes! They seem so relaxed with each other. It is good to see Maia engaging more with Rana and Mara. What a super video!

  11. REPLY
    Lila Nieto says
    August 19, 2020 at 4:37 pm

    Hahaha, Maia, you camera hog. I love how fast she comes in, what a big personality. What a gorgeous eye. Mara is being a star too, she seems to always have been here, like she always knows what to do. And Ranaaaa… Rana my dear, my darling, my lovely Rana, you are like a child, I just adore you!!!

  12. REPLY
    Patricia says
    August 20, 2020 at 6:16 am

    Why do I love animals so much when they’re being silly and naughty? Maybe because I feel like they’re showing their true selves and aren’t afraid to do so. What an amazing blessing to be holding the camera that Maia is hogging!

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