Spending All of Their Time Together

Rana, Mara, and Bambi are continuing to spend all their time together, including mealtime, resulting in some hilarity.

Bambi is very enthusiastic – she is likely the most energetic creature (including the humans!) at the Sanctuary during this heatwave. Rana and Mara continue to be very lazy and unmotivated in this heat. It’ll be curious to see how things shift when the weather cools off. For now, Bambi moves at a much different speed than the other two. Knowing this, Kat and Scott went out to feed the three together. The plan was that Bambi would follow one person, and Mara and Rana would follow the second, but we would lead them to the same area for a snack. As happens with plans involving three elephants, it went quite differently than we envisioned.

At first, Bambi followed as enthusiastically as anticipated but quickly decided to go back to stay close to her friends. At that point, Rana chose to take the lead (as we mentioned in yesterday’s post, she is highly food motivated right now). Rana was doing great following and was almost at the gate when Mara decided to make her “ERRRR” noise.

As soon as Mara vocalized that sound, it was like a switch flipped. Both Bambi and Rana came running back to Mara, setting us back.

Once the other elephants arrived at Mara’s side and investigated her, Mara started following. It seemed like Mara decided she wanted to be first, but rather than rushing; she manipulated the situation to ensure she was first with minimum effort.

Once Mara was in the lead and following, everyone else followed well, and we fed them all in a shady area of Yard 5.

In terms of mealtime, the three seem to be doing well. Once Bambi finishes eating, she heads over to Mara. She doesn’t try to take Mara’s food while Mara finishes her dinner. Mara is very picky, so once Mara is done eating, Bambi will eat what Mara leaves behind. It’s nice to see everyone being respectful of the other’s meals.

Photo of Mara (left), Bambi (back, center), and Rana (right).

October 8, 2020

Comments(33)

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Heidi says
October 8, 2020 at 4:22 pm
I love your stories. Even without video, I can picture everything perfectly!
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  Beji says
  October 8, 2020 at 6:44 pm
  I just love these girls!?
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Julia Mercedes Eden says
October 8, 2020 at 4:36 pm
Adorable ? adorable ? post – the trio at Global Sanctuary Elephants ??? Brazil have become friends so quickly after first meeting ! I love how Rana and Bambi went running to investigate Mara’s sounds ? Bambi clearly loves food and hopefully she’ll put on weight just by having such an a la carte diet there ????❤️???
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Julie says
October 8, 2020 at 4:36 pm
The dynamics of this trio are so comical and interesting. And I do believe you all are learning to understand the elephant language! Not to mention, what an amazing photo!
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Juan Camilo Echeverri says
October 8, 2020 at 4:41 pm
Amazing to see Bambi’s progress. It’s really such good news
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Sunny says
October 8, 2020 at 4:47 pm
They were Maranipulated XD
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Laura says
October 8, 2020 at 4:48 pm
I’m so appreciative of your work and the hope and light that you bring into this world. I look forward to the blog posts daily, it’s the highlight of my day. Thanks for caring and sharing.
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Lane says
October 8, 2020 at 4:48 pm
Beautiful photo. There is grace in this world.
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Deb Moore says
October 8, 2020 at 4:48 pm
OH that if so funny. I could see this little scene play out with the ERRR and ABOUT FACE in a hurry. Wondering if that sound means something else to her, must be that it reminds her of a different meaning that Mara means it to be. BUT then again, Mara may be enjoying her little ERR CLICKER to get Bambi running. HAHAHAHAHA
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Carole Kramer says
October 8, 2020 at 4:50 pm
Love, love, love the friendship between these three. Hoping Lady and Maia will join at some point. Thank you for all you do for the ellies! ???????
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Wim says
October 8, 2020 at 5:01 pm
This is another wonderful story with so many lovely twists and turns. Sounds like Elephants politics full throttle. Would be amazing if they already form a threesome. They do have their own hidden agendas whatever humans prepare or plan. Utterly charming all the way.
????????
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Tracy H says
October 8, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Beautiful and comical story!! Beautiful Pic!!
Love all the girls?????. Highlight of my day. Thanks for sharing
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  FRANCINE FORD says
  October 8, 2020 at 5:41 pm
  Another wonderful, heartwarming post! Seeing them makes my day. Looks like I’m not alone in saying that. Bambatastic has patience waiting for Mara’s leftovers. I wonder if they have this all figured out & have told each other “the rules” so to speak. My heart is filled with love & joy reading these blog posts. Thank you for sharing the journeys of these Golen Girls with us!
  ?❤?❤?
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Kelejan says
October 8, 2020 at 5:15 pm
The tales you tell us are one of the highlight of my day, and I find myself smiling and even laughing out loud. The elephants are wonderful and so are all of you at the Sanctuary.
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Irene Olson says
October 8, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Omg that is too cute! Love the updates, they are the best! Mara is in the drivers seat! So cute how Rana and Bambi run to their friends side when Mara calls! Lvlvlv ? Thank you for the updates , they are awesome! Can’t wait everyday for the latest updates!?♥️
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JoAnn Merriman Eaton says
October 8, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Seems like little Miss Mara knows how to manipulate her two buddies. Hilarious!! With you wonderful description, I was able to visualize so clearly, and as usual I found myself smiling the whole time. Thank you !!
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Lori Hoover says
October 8, 2020 at 5:36 pm
They are all too precious. I’d come running to that sound that Mara makes if I could. It may be one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard.
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Alana says
October 8, 2020 at 5:40 pm
Looks like rain is on the way, I’m glad for the relief it will bring all at the sanctuary. Great photo!
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Maria Villa says
October 8, 2020 at 5:49 pm
(((( Thank you for this update. Delighted to hear they are well. Bambi is beginning to feel “safe,” finding out that this is her Sanctuary and she is free to find herself and be herself, no expectations, only supporting her in this process in every way. Elephant-Hugs to everyone. (((( Lady & Maia and the ones waiting )))))
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susan says
October 8, 2020 at 5:57 pm
How wonderful things are unfolding so nicely for these 3 gals. So happy for Bambi. I love her spirit. ???❤❤❤
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elaine richard says
October 8, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Lovely picture of the three of them together at, presumably, sunset. Beginning to be a herd. I guess all our prayers and wishes for rain haven’t manifested the wet stuff yet. We’ll keep trying. Hoping Bambi will put on some weight. I imagine it’s a good sign that she’s so energetic?
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Barb Campbell says
October 8, 2020 at 8:39 pm
I just love these posts about the 3 BFF’s so happy for all of them how far in such a short time for Bambi ??? Love these stories it is like being there everyday ♥️♥️♥️
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Marcia says
October 8, 2020 at 8:55 pm
Please never tire of posting these stories for us! During these times especially, reading about “our girls” is truly turning out to be the highlight of so many of our days. Question: By any chance was Mara a lead elephant in her circus?
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  Kat Blais says
  October 14, 2020 at 1:34 pm
  Mara was the only elephant in her circus. Circuses here almost always have just one elephant, sometimes two.
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Carey says
October 8, 2020 at 10:16 pm
Great to hear and another beautiful image. I also keep thinking Maia’s belly touching with Bambi, think that v special also, maybe a first for Maia since losing Guida?
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  Kat Blais says
  October 14, 2020 at 1:34 pm
  I think Maia’s most significant interactions with another elephant are those with Rana. Although it was good to see Maia and Bambi interact, she seemed to lose interest quickly and went off as usual. Rana seems to be the one elephant she is interested in spending more than a moment with.
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Terry says
October 8, 2020 at 10:18 pm
Where is Lady with all of this socializing going on?
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  Kat Blais says
  October 14, 2020 at 1:33 pm
  Lady was in yard 4. She seems to enjoy being able to hear them ‘chatting’ with each other, but she doesn’t seem to want to be part of it at this point. Our video posted yesterday has Lady in it, closely watching the other three together.
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arie says
October 9, 2020 at 12:28 am
Elephant paradise ?❤️
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Bo says
October 9, 2020 at 1:21 am
trick or treat… watch out for the sisterhood gang!
Great story 🙂
Oh, so glad they are getting along sooo elephantastically.
Because they want to, not because they have to.
So so happy.
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Rosie P says
October 9, 2020 at 3:04 am
Another beautiful photo! I was able to recognise each of the girls instantly before reading the the bottom line. I know them so well now. I am very pleased with myself.
Loved the post. Mara is a canny ellie. It is so good to see how they can make their choices and manipulate some, LOL! They are so adorable and I don’t think we could have wished for such a great outcome for Bambi. Rana and Mara have reached out to her and extended their friendship. Bambi seems delighted to be part of a herd.
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SHEILA says
October 9, 2020 at 3:36 am
oh mara ? is so worried about bambi ?leaving her and ?rana! its absolutely wonderful how these 3 ladies r getting along and they r very hilairiou keeping scott and kat on their toes! ur stories r great! thank you! i can totally visualize bambi? waiting for leftovers. hoping to hear soon all 3 are in the pond! splashing and mudding!! so mz mara is a picky! no worries bambi or rana will vaccume up the leftovers! well i guess they dont enjoy the brown grass so much! so happy for these dear ladies!! hope ur rain ??arrives soon!!
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Sallie says
October 10, 2020 at 1:06 am
Quite a mental visual of Bambi and all the girls on different cues! C’est la vie! Hope they all fit into the pond to cool down! Those who do not fit, can troll for leftovers . . . No time is wasted in this special econcomy!

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