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Rana and Mara have been taking advantage of all the rainy season offers. There are pond visits and lots of grazing in the almost-daily showers. All of the elephants seem to thrive in the rain, and Rana and Mara are often seen relaxing grandma-style in both storms and light drizzle, though they’ve been known to take shelter under the tree canopy at times. I guess we all have moments when we’d prefer to stay dry. Many people ask if we open the barn for them during storms, and we would if they ever showed any interest in going inside–but they never have.

Over the years, we’ve taken hundreds of photos of a very muddy Mara. Sometimes, she can be found voicing her squeaks while showing off whatever color of mud she’s sprayed herself with–it’s all dependent on the part of the habitat they’re wandering and the dirt found there. As a result of all that moisture, her skin is in lovely shape. When she’s wet from the pond and actually clean, she sparkles as bright as her golden eyes. Rana is not as dirty here as Mara, but she’s still shiny and wet. The two girls have such a calm energy that merely watching them casts a spell of calm around their chosen spot. They know they can go and do whatever they want, whenever they want, so their contentment is a reflection of how sanctuary gives them agency–and the opportunity to get good and muddy whenever they want.