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As Baby has been getting more comfortable and acclimating to the new world around her, we wanted to check in with her primary caregivers for an inside look at how Baby’s days are changing and her relationships developing. Baby is growing and transforming, as she learns how to traverse her new normal. From Baby’s care team:

Baby is a bright, curious, and energetic elephant. Those three qualities combined are what allow her to make such incredible progress. Although she still looks to us, her human caregivers, for reassurance at times, every day she becomes a little more independent and confident.

Physically, her skin has already begun to change. Baby loves taking long baths every day (she’s our little mermaid), and those, plus the exfoliation that dirt provides have made a huge difference in the condition of her skin. Her behavioral changes are even more remarkable. Initially, she had a stiff posture and constantly held her head high with a certain degree of tension, and her somewhat abrupt movements revealed what seemed to be a certain level of insecurity. As the days have gone by, that has changed. She now looks much more relaxed, and her movements have become softer, calmer, and more gentle.

Perhaps the most affecting change of all is seeing her confidence grow. When Baby first arrived, she wouldn’t venture beyond the established paths in the habitat. Before taking a single step into the denser vegetation, you could see her appear to take a deep breath, almost as if she were gathering the courage to move forward. That’s why it’s such a joy to watch her walk confidently now between the trees and make her way through the tall grass without hesitation.

Our relationships with Baby are built one step at a time through our daily work together. Little by little, we’re all getting to know each other. We’re learning what she enjoys and where her boundaries are. On the very first day, she was tentative about human touch that didn’t have a clinical purpose. Now, she’s often the one who approaches us and makes that contact possible.

Everything is part of the process—learning to trust each other and gradually opening up to one another. And one thing is certain: Baby is truly incredible.

Photo of Baby emerging from the tall grass