A painful contrast exists between the suffering and joy experienced by captive-held elephants. My heart aches for the hundreds of elephants swept from safety into the monsoon-fed floodwaters in … [Read more...]
EleDiaries by Carol Buckley
Read the EleDiaries blog series for observations and insights from Carol Buckley on the Elephant Refuge North America elephant residents - Bo Tarra and soon-to-be Mundi!
Trust is Everything
Today is Mundi's nine month anniversary at ERNA. Last night was an opportunity of a lifetime to deepen her trust in me. With the warming weather, all three elephants are wandering deeper into the … [Read more...]
Midnight Dance
I wish you all could have been a squirrel perched on a tree branch last night to witness the boisterous display that preceded the night feed. It was glorious. For only the second night in the … [Read more...]
The Gift: Mother Nature’s Storm
As the rain blows forcefully through my back deck, causing wind chimes to crash and rattle noisily, and thunder rumbles in the distance, Mala coils up at my feet. She is deeply unnerved by … [Read more...]
Mundi’s Free to Love and Be Loved
Mundi is genuinely content and feels safe in her new situation, as demonstrated by her play behavior. Mala, Samie, and I sat on the grass, beside the barn, just outside the night yard where … [Read more...]
African and Asian elephant cohabitation
Mundi moving to Elephant Refuge North America (ERNA) gives us a perfect opportunity to discuss the cohabitation of African and Asian elephants in captivity. In the wild African and Asian elephants … [Read more...]
Bo’s Late Night Communication
Last night I was treated to the sweetness of Bo, a memory forever embedded in my mind and my heart. Feeding the elephants in the dark of night is always a surreal experience for me. I cherish the … [Read more...]
A Bo Breakthrough!
Each day is filled with so much joy and so many surprises, writing it down usually escapes me because one wonder is quickly followed by another. But what happened today feels extraordinary, requiring … [Read more...]
Bo Comes First!
When I claim that elephants come first in everything we do, I am not exaggerating. With that philosophy we clearly know what decision should be made in all situations concerning our elephants. This … [Read more...]
Elephants and Stereotypical Behavior
Let's talk about stereotypical behavior, what it is and why captive-held elephants engage in it. The facts might surprise you. Self-stimulatory or stereotypic behavior is defined as the repetition … [Read more...]
Cooperation, A Choice
In the 47 years that I have been blessed to be around elephants, they never cease to amaze me. They demonstrate every day that they are not only intelligent, but highly evolved, sentient beings who … [Read more...]
Tarra In Charge
Tarra In Charge! Over the past several days it has become crystal clear that Tarra is in charge of how her bonding dance with Bo proceeds. Mornings seem to be the best time for her to be … [Read more...]
