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Step by Step

Lady is definitely becoming a little more confident in her approach with other elephants. For those who follow us on Instagram, you have already seen this video, but not the rest of the update.

The video is Lady with Rana. Lady had come to the trough for a drink, and on her own, decided to come closer to see Rana. As you know, Rana is all about other elephants, but since she is a little more subdued right now, she’s more approachable for Lady. Lady didn’t get any closer than this but stayed around for a bit just watching Rana.

The next day she had a little meet and greet with Maia. Scott was taking Maia past one of the yards for dinner. Lady heard the four-wheeler as well (yes, she knows it’s the food wagon now 😉 ) and decided to head towards it. Maia was on one side of the fence, Lady on the other, set to converge. They got really close before both of them stopped. Only about an elephant’s length away, neither tried to touch, but Maia did put her trunk up to smell in Lady’s direction. For about five minutes, both of them calmly checked each other out. The curious thing about this and other interactions we have seen with Maia is that since Ramba’s passing, she seems more interested in the other elephants. More than we have seen since Guida. She’s a little more patient, curious, and bright-eyed.

We have added a photo below from the next occurrence, I love the angle on Maia, even if it is in the barn. Maia had come to the barn in the morning for breakfast and a check-over. Lady was already in the barn but quickly exited as Maia went into the other stall. We didn’t say anything, and about two steps outside of the barn, Lady stopped, casually turned around, and headed back in. It seems she’s starting to understand that this is a safe space, and the elephants here (and humans) aren’t trying to hurt her. Lady came about halfway in and stopped, stood for about a minute, and then gathered up the courage to go back inside. We would have gladly fed her outside, but we like to allow them to decide.

Neither elephant showed that much interest in the other- they are both very food motivated. When each was done eating, both ladies went into the patios on their own, Lady for foot soaks and Maia for her once over. Lady would look over at Maia during treatment and was watchful, but she did well.

Step by step

January 1, 2020

Read more about the girls on their pages:

 

Maia and Lady

Video cameo by Roger the Rooster.  He’s the one that “welcomed” Rana to sanctuary a year ago.  🙂

Comments(10)

  1. REPLY
    Maggie says
    January 1, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    Maybe Maia initially wanted to be on her own after Guida passing, then saw Rana and Ramba’s friendship blossom. She may have felt that she was on her own although she didn’t have to be. Then with Lady’s arrival and Ramba’s passing, she now thinks she is ready to have a friend again. As you say. One step at a time.

  2. REPLY
    GramCrackerX6 says
    January 1, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    Great news and very welcoming for everyone in this new year of miracles!

  3. REPLY
    Kelejan says
    January 1, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    I loved the way the little rooster stood between them, never afraid and he/she knows it is a safe place.

  4. REPLY
    CyrAnn says
    January 1, 2020 at 5:59 pm

    Here’s to a wonderful and productive 2020 for GSE and the lovely ladies!!!!!!!!!
    Happy New Year to all!!!!!!!!

  5. REPLY
    Bobi StaySee says
    January 1, 2020 at 11:20 pm

    Maybe like a bereavement support group, Rana and Maia have common experiences of losing the one they’ve been closest to. Lady’s approach in mutual subdued energy, a heightened opportunity to be a herd with profound combined experiences. This is beautiful progress, stopping herself, considering, turning, being with. Mr. Roger the Rooster looks pretty spunky. Love it.

  6. REPLY
    Sherry says
    January 2, 2020 at 8:31 am

    Good news in the new year. Thank you, GSE. Happy and healthy new year to all and the elephants too.

  7. REPLY
    Muriel in Servaege says
    January 2, 2020 at 9:20 am

    Pleased to read the good news but I can’t help thinking this is the result of ill-treatment due to men.

    • REPLY
      Angelina says
      January 2, 2020 at 12:16 pm

      Muriel, I know what you mean, but once you start thinking about the horrible things humans have done and continue to do to other species (and also to many of their own species) you can so easily become badly depressed. Me, I help pigeons out when I can; we took those from their habitats and spread them all over the world, and they’re superintelligent and superpowered . I knew next to nothing about pigeons until I saw one trying to commit suicide in rush hour traffic and at the same time clearly not wanting to die yet. (Pigeons sometimes deliberately commit suicide, yes.) So I grabbed it and took it with me, released it 9 days later. It probably had gotten locked up accidentally in an alleyway.

      Also, I live in a country with tremendous deep poverty. My own country is much more prosperous and much more egalitarian. The poverty and misery that I see here, often inflicted by the government, has had a strong tendency to drag me down. I want to set up poverty / empowerment self-help groups, but I am not entirely ready yet (also, need to finish something else first).

      I find that I seem to have the choice between either getting dragged down by all the misery and feeling really powerless and miserable about it or trying to make things a tiny little bit better. Every little bit helps. We are society. All the tiny little bits that we do as individuals make up society.

      Know what I mean? I can’t change what some people do to other people and to animals, even though it breaks my heart to think about it.

      Happy New Year. Maybe it will become the year of 20/20 vision.

  8. REPLY
    Sheila says
    January 2, 2020 at 9:47 am

    HAPPY NEW YEAR LADIES??. THANKS FOR THE GREAT NEWS ON MZ LADY GETTING ABIT CHUMMY WITH RANA! ?? YES. ITS IN PROCESS? SOON ITS GOING TO CLICK WITH LADY! SHES NOT GOING TO BE BEAT UP BY ELEPHANTS OR HUMANS FOR TRYING TO GET CLOSE TO A SISTER!! POOR SWEET LADY. MUST BE HUNGERING FOR A BEST FRIEND BUT SO RESERVED! I THINK IT WAS HUMANS WHO BEAT HER BADLY. FOR GOING CLOSE TO OTHER ELLIES IN THE ROTTEN CIRCUS AS PERHAPS ?LADY DIDNT COMLY TO THE LINE UPS. TOO WELL! ANYWAY. ITS GOING TO BE EXCITING TO SEE HER TURN THE CORNER ON THIS ISSUE AND WHO SHE ALLOWS VERY CLOSE TO HER FIRST!❤️

  9. REPLY
    Lynne Russert says
    January 2, 2020 at 10:56 am

    Baby steps!?

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