The Path of Elephant Caregiver Growth

One of the things we’ve noticed with elephant caregivers old and new is that each goes through layers of learning and evolution in their growth. There may be times when they are observing and gathering immense amounts of information and putting that to use. Then, almost without fail, it seems that learning reaches a plateau of sorts. Some people stay on that level for long stretches of time and then – all of a sudden – something clicks. Seemingly out of nowhere, the caregiver will jump to the next level of understanding with the elephants. Things will start to sink in and jibe in ways they weren’t before.

But, sometimes like clockwork, these plateaus will come again. That’s just part of the learning process. It’s incredibly difficult for individuals to take in large amounts of information about care without processing it and putting it to use. Yet, as plateaus come, so do epiphanies. Something that was missing will start to come naturally, allowing more things to make sense. There is always a lot happening under the surface that we might not realize until we look back and see the pathway that a person has been on.

We mentioned that a similar thing is happening with the elephants – that they seem to be on their own plateau, perhaps on the brink of something new occurring. This type of learning in stages can be emblematic of sanctuary life, whether we’re talking about people or elephants. There’s always more going on than meets the eye and putting the big pieces together is all part of the larger process of learning about the world around you and all of those in it.

Photo of Bambi

Comments(11)

Pamela Hall says
February 9, 2023 at 2:38 pm
To be a caregiver and friend of an elephant has always been my dream. I will have to be satisfied with my recurring dream of one running down my street- I open my gate and in he walks and we live happily ever after.
Nishant Bhajaria says
February 9, 2023 at 3:29 pm
Beautifully written!
Julie says
February 9, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Love this!
John says
February 9, 2023 at 7:01 pm
It would be nice to have some posts written by caregivers. Just an idea. I would love to hear their perspectives and experiences, much as you’ve expressed today.
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  Sara says
  February 9, 2023 at 7:03 pm
  It can be hard for them to find the time, but we’ll see what we can make happen.
Beji says
February 10, 2023 at 8:38 am
Just when I think Bamni can’t get any cuter, here she is in all her cuteness…amazing
Cecile Lemay says
February 11, 2023 at 6:56 pm
You should include the share functions on these beautiful stories so we can share on our soc. media contacts. I share with 5 soc. medias which include thousands of ppl that would love to read these stories & encourage more to donate.
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  Sara says
  February 11, 2023 at 8:02 pm
  We share on our Facebook, instagram, and twitter pages. We hope you will share from here or there.
SHEILA says
February 14, 2023 at 3:30 am
THANK U FOR UR VLOG. ON MAUA, BAMBI AND GUILLE. I find it cool that Maia and Bambi had issues with pushing boundaries but Maia. Taught Bambi very nicely. Not to go aggravating things like food stealing, I think after Guida passes and Poacha. Maia took on the Healer support role along with Rana. Bambi wanted sistership with Maia and Guille so she changed her manners to what Maia Taught her. More both Maia and Bambi r mentoring. SWEET GUILLE. ITS ALL A TRUST AND RESPECTFUL MANNERS I THINK. RANA EXHUDES GRACE, ALWAYS HAS AND PERHAPS SHES BERN TALKING TO GUILLE AND BAMBI ALSO.
AS FOR MZ SWEET LADY. I BELIEVE. SHE DID BOND WITH KAT AT VISIT. YES SHE LOVES SCOTT TOO BUT HIVEN INFO ABOUT THE CIRCUS CAREGIVER AND ALSO HER ZOO KEEPER WHO DID ZERO FOR DWAR KADY BIT LET HER STAND IN A VERY DIRTY STALL. NO REGULAR NUTRITIAN. POOR LADY GOT THE DISEASED FEET AND SHE WAS VERY THIN. MAYBE FULL OF WORMS. SCOT WAS VERY LOVING TO LADY AND IM SURE SHE DID BOND TO HIM ALOT, BUT BECAUSE SHE HAD A VERY CRUEL CIRCUS LIFE, AND NEGLIGENT ZOO LIFE. SHE PROBABLYWILL NEVER FULLY TRUST A MAN FROM ALL THE BEATINGS SHE GOT IN CIRCUS WHEN SHE JUST LIKELY WANTED TO BE CLOSE TO OTHER LADIES IN PLAY. HE TOLD SCOTT *lady likes to fight with others* THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT WHO SWEET LADY IS, I DO NOT BELIEVE SHES A FIGHTER. I THINK THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ELEPHANT THAT PICKED ON DEAR LADY IN CIRCUS &THAT ABUSER BEAT LADY AS WELL AS LADY WANTING TO PLAY AND SNUGGLE WITH A SISTER.
POOR LADY HAS NEVER TOUCHED MAIA. RANA, MARA, BAMBIE OR GUILLE OR DEAR POACHA. SHE IS SO INSE URE AND TIMID UNTRUSTING. THAT PAST LIFE AND HUMANS I BELIEVE IMPACTED HER LIFE. HOWEVER. SCOTT DOES HAVE A RELATIONSHIP. JUST NOT 100% TRUST. SADLY. IM STILL HOPING DEAR 💝LADY WILL EXTEND HER REACH TO OTHER🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘 LADIES SOON
Carey says
February 17, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Thank you for taking the time to write this. your own stories are most surely rich ones, and at the end of the day it’s all a learning experience. You do something quite extraordinary and relatively unsupported, very different if for instance is was a “Normal” practice. But caring for mainly geriatric ex circus zoo elephants elephants has never been done as you and very few others are working at. Also with any pressures associated with being in the public gaze, some of it intense. If you will allow me I want to sing the praises of the skills of the people who deal with all that. Your communication with us is really good news reporting and highly educational! Remember to give yourselves a break , thank you, and well done!
- REPLY
  Sara says
  February 17, 2023 at 3:41 pm
  Thank you for those kind words.

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