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Sunday Smile: Kenya’s Squish Face

October 26, 2025

Zoomed in photo of female African elephant Kenya's nose with a tusk visible on her right side

Most of the photos and videos of Kenya we share highlight her magnificent ears. She is that quintessential impressive African elephant when she fully opens her ears. But this week’s Sunday Smile shows a sillier and not quite as regal view: her face up close, with her ears all the way back. She’s taken to squishing her face into the fence when she gets excited, and this is the view that caregivers get when that happens.

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Comments(15)

  1. REPLY
    Wim says
    October 26, 2025 at 2:10 pm

    The many faces of Kenya. Never a dull moment.
    May she keep on shining. 👏🐘🍉

  2. REPLY
    Ada says
    October 26, 2025 at 2:26 pm

    And I would be that human who would squish my face back into Kenya’s face😂Hello there pretty girl🥰

  3. REPLY
    June says
    October 26, 2025 at 2:36 pm

    Are all of the lines and wrinkles normal on the trunk as Kenya seems to have?

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      October 26, 2025 at 3:50 pm

      Yep! Totally normal for an African elephant.

  4. REPLY
    J Johnson @jmjinsincity says
    October 26, 2025 at 2:37 pm

    This is a fabulous photo of Kenya! Congrats to whomever the photographer is 📸

    Kenya as well as those @ GSE/ESB & all of the virtual family which are still greiving the loss of magnificent Miss Pupy, this is inevitably the cycle of life which touches us all.

    Sara, as I recall from posts quite awhile back, the Asian girls have a burial site of sorts, will Pupy be buried in the African habitat where Kenya may have access?

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      October 26, 2025 at 3:51 pm

      Each of the elephants is buried either in a place that was special for them, or somewhere particularly beautiful. We think Scott picked a nice spot for Pupy. We’ll try to share it soon.

  5. REPLY
    Jeanine says
    October 26, 2025 at 2:46 pm

    What a doll baby.❤️

  6. REPLY
    Barbara L Smith says
    October 26, 2025 at 3:07 pm

    Aaaah☺️ So cute.❤️

  7. REPLY
    Joey says
    October 26, 2025 at 3:18 pm

    Squishy face or impressive ears – she’s a beauty! I hope she is having a good day today. I love her so much.
    When she wants attention or a snack, is this what she does? Goes up to the fence and shows her squishy face?

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      October 26, 2025 at 3:52 pm

      It could be both. She is becoming very expressive ❤️

  8. REPLY
    June says
    October 26, 2025 at 4:09 pm

    Thank you for your response Sara.

  9. REPLY
    Maria José says
    October 26, 2025 at 9:14 pm

    I just loved this photo. It makes me feel closer to her and more “intimate friend”…..thank you! Her trunk is pretty”!

  10. REPLY
    Gayle Janzen says
    October 27, 2025 at 1:18 am

    Where did your big ears go, Kenya? 😀

  11. REPLY
    Beji says
    October 27, 2025 at 4:43 am

    A squishy Missy!

  12. REPLY
    Diane Kastel says
    October 27, 2025 at 1:10 pm

    I love any closeups! Ears, trunks, eyes, etc. I can appreciate them even more.

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