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For many of the elephants at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, the sound of a nearby motor suggests that a food delivery is coming. The Asian elephants are used to the daily schedule and don’t always run toward the 4-wheeler when they hear it heading their way. They know that, no matter what, caregivers will make sure they receive their meals, and oftentimes the girls just want to slowly make their way to the fence line for a snack. (Of course, there are occasional exceptions to this rule, when the elephants become what we lovingly refer to as “land sharks,” and seem to focus completely on how fast they can get to their food.)

After they arrived at sanctuary, both Pupy and Kenya would get super excited to hear the unmistakable sound of a vehicle in the vicinity. They would hustle to the fence and wait, watching intently as their food was carefully laid out. The hay, alfalfa, grains, fruits, supplements, and vegetables can be a tempting-but-healthy treat and they would perk up when they figured out that breakfast or dinner was on the way. But lately, they’ve become more passive when the 4-wheeler arrives. Yes, sometimes the presence of humans equals food delivery to them, but they’re now more relaxed, appearing to understand that they don’t have to rush and that their food will still be waiting for them when they’re ready to eat it. After all, now they have fresh food available to them 24/7, so although meals are nice, there isn’t the same need.

Recently, when caregivers went to the African barn to feed Kenya and Pupy, they saw that there were still some “decorations” from the yard the night before, which means the snacks they placed in various places throughout the habitat for the elephants to look for had not been discovered. These random treats keep their minds and bodies engaged and provide them with a special surprise, perhaps when they least expect it. Pupy found a whole pile of undiscovered hay from the day before, so she stopped to enjoy several slow bites before heading toward her meal. She spent about half an hour munching away on the alfalfa, all the while knowing that her scheduled breakfast would still be there when she wanted it. Kenya didn’t take her time, but she did approach her food pile at a measured pace. She wasn’t in a hurry either, so perhaps they are truly realizing that they are safe and in a healthy home. 

Photo of Pupy taken by her caregiver while she was stopping for snacks