Elephant Aid International

Tag: elephant relationships

  • Tarra In Charge

    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 interested in Bo’s attention. For Bo, any time is a good time, but he is very sensitive to and respectful of Tarra’s need to determine when, where and for how long they interact.

    It begins with Tarra approaching Bo, casually acting like she is simply grazing in his direction. But one look at her face and you can see she is calculating her next move. Not in a bad way: she is light and comfortable, obviously not afraid of Bo.

    And Bo has never given her a reason to do anything but trust him. He never encroaches on her space without her permission, doesn’t attempt to take her food and crowds her only when the water is on and they can drink directly from the hose. (They both prefer flowing water opposed to standing water. Who wouldn’t?)

    This morning I was not at the trough with the hose. Rather I was glued to the EleCam, so excited about the display of interest and affection being shared between Tarra and Bo. As we’ve observed in the recent past, Tarra initiated the exchange, slowly backing up until her rump was touching Bo, who responded by gently running his trunk across her body, reaching for and smelling her ear.  If he were a breeding bull he might, at this point, have tried to mount her. But instead, he moved up next to her so their bodies were touching, as their trunks explored with feathery touches, both of them calm and receptive.

    This display of exploration and interaction continued for about 10 minutes when the need to graze overtook them both and the moment was gone, but not lost or forgotten.

    The EleCam is such a valuable tool, a thrilling opportunity to be a fly on the wall to Tarra and Bo’s blossoming relationship. They’ve been together for 5 weeks now, which is not a long time for their relationship to have developed to this level. It is very heartwarming.

    Bo the elephant gently nudges TarraBo the elephant follows Tarra the elephantERNA elephant residents Tarra and BoBo the elephant gently touches Tarra's ear

  • Tarra Leading The Dance

    Tarra Leading The Dance

    After feeding Bo and Tarra this morning I was mesmerized watching them on the ELECAM. They were fed closer together then usual, so I was curious how both would respond. They spent a good hour savoring their produce, grain, and since the winter pastures is a bit sparce, they also had a pile of hay each.

    After both had finished and were now grazing, I noticed that Tarra, instead of wandering off to her favorite grazing place, was looking over at Bo. Then surprisingly she started moving in his direction. This was a first in the relationship dance. Usually Bo is the one who approaches first, but this morning it was Tarra who was showing interest.

    Now some might say, oh, she wanted to see if he left any food and I considered that. But as I watched I saw that Bo had finished eating and was already grazing in another area. And Tarra was moving directly towards him, not towards the area his food had been dropped.

    Then for the next 10 minutes Tarra continued to slowly move in Bo’s direction, unhurried step by step, stopping to occupy herself with grazing and watching Bo’s reaction. Bo appeared quite aware of Tarra’s interest, and he played it cool. He glanced over at her every few steps she took, all the while continuing grazing.

    Tarra appeared cool, calm and collected. How could I tell? Well, her body was relaxed, she wasn’t holding her head high, and she was approaching Bo head on. Tarra is known for backing into a situation when she feels unsure of the outcome. Maybe because that way she can make a quick exit if needed. But here she was, walking slowly, calmly towards Bo, apparently feeling quite secure. Bo was amazing. He is so savvy. Raised around a large family of elephants, Bo learned social skills. He uses these skills with Tarra and is working magic with her.

    After about ten minutes Tarra closed the distance between them and was standing right next to Bo. I realized that I was holding my breath, so excited about this development, and had to remind myself that I was watching on the ELECAM, so breathing in no way could disturb them. I must have called Suzanne 4 times saying “Are you watching this? Are you recording this? Wow, oh wow.” Suzanne just laughed.

    This continuation of the relationship dance was glorious, precious and exciting. After about fifteen minutes Bo took a few steps closer to Tarra, they stood side by side, just being together. Then with no urgency or even a sense of dismissal they both started grazing in different directions, Tarra to her favorite area around the giant oak trees and Bo in the wide open pasture by the pond. It was another good day in Bo and Tarra’s world.

    Bo and Tarra the elephants grazing together

  • The Relationship Building Dance

    The Relationship Building Dance

    I am bursting with hope for the future for Tarra and Bo. We wish for the best for those we love. We assist in any way possible to make them feel safe and cared for. We lose sleep wondering if we are doing all we can or should do, deeply wanting them to experience a fulfilled life. And when the clear demonstration of their positive growth and comfort stares us right in the face, our heart sings.

    That is what happened today. This afternoon anyone watching the elecam witnessed the blossoming relationship between Tarra and Bo. Without question Bo wants the relationship, does his best to make Tarra feel safe, and is more patient than anyone I know.

    Due to being raised a single elephant, Tarra has trust issues with elephants. Her default when in an uncomfortable situation is to walk away and be alone. The exciting news is that things are changing with Tarra and Bo.

    Today I watched as Tarra and Bo tested personal boundaries, slowing weaving in and out of the other’s space. Bo is a pro, having lived with elephants nearly his entire life, it was breathtaking to watch how well he did. Tarra was interested, engaged, and willing to allow Bo into her personal space and then out again, within limits. This relationship building dance went on for almost 4 hours and it was a joy to behold.

    When the dance concluded they stood calmly 50 feet apart grazing contently, while I watched in tears. I am so happy for them both. There will be more relationship dancing to come, I am sure.

     

     

     

  • When Jenny Met Shirley

    Jenny and Shirley first met each other in 1976 at the Carson and Barnes Circus winter quarters in Oklahoma. Jenny was a youngster, newly imported from Asia. Shirley was recovering from a broken leg she sustained from an elephant attack many months prior.

    Circuses are known to keep elephants chained side-by-side according to size, largest to smallest. Since Shirley was unstable, having only three good legs, she was chained at the far end of the picket line away from the big elephants and right next to Jenny.

    Their time together was short-lived, only a couple of months. In early spring of 1977, Jenny was sent out on the road to perform with the circus and Shirley was sold to the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe, LA.

    Twenty-three years passed. The next time they saw each other was when Jenny stepped inside her barn at The Elephant Sanctuary on July 6, 1999.

  • Jenny and Shirley’s reunion

    Jenny and Shirley’s reunion

    Recently, a friend emailed me a question: “During the filming of “The Urban Elephant” documentary, what was going on in your mind (and heart) when Shirley and Jenny were trying to get close to each other?”

    I realize many of you may be curious as well, so I decide to share with all of you.

    “The Urban Elephant” film crew had been at the Sanctuary all day and had just left for dinner when Jenny approached the barn. She and Shirley had not yet met.

    When Jenny first stepped inside the barn she was calm, but when she saw Shirley she became agitated. She reached through the stall toward Shirley, intensely focused on her. Shirley showed little interest but finally responded to Jenny’s attention by stepping close enough to be touched.

    Jenny’s agitation grew. She extended her trunk all the way through the bars, reaching out, touching, talking to Shirley. Shirley stood parallel to the corral allowing Jenny to touch all over her, but continued to show very little interest. Jenny began to work herself up into frenzy, very uncharacteristic behavior for her.

    Scott and I were sitting inside the barn only a few feet away, watching. I was filming.

    Jenny was animated and anxious; she wanted to get closer to Shirley. Shirley remained calm. But when Jenny placed her truck up to Shirley’s mouth, Shirley froze. Her posture changed, she became a little rigid and then turned to look at Jenny. She reached over to touch Jenny’s mouth and what followed was undefinably powerful and life changing for all present.

    Looking straight into Jenny’s eyes, Shirley erupted into a huge baritone roar. Caught completely off guard, I thought a bomb and an earthquake had simultaneously hit the barn. Her bellows ignited Jenny’s bellows, which together literally shook the barn.

    With her head held high and mouth gaping open, Shirley roared and gently touched all over Jenny’s smiling face. Jenny’s body immediately relaxed as she continued to grope and pull at Shirley through the bars and bellow. The volume of their shared roars was deafening.

    The energy in the barn was so intense I had to step outside the door to catch my breath. Seriously, I could not breathe. I did not yet fully understand what was happening. I had only seen such a display of emotion once before when a baby elephant at a breeding facility was separated from his mother for the first time. The two nearly killed themselves trying to climb over the corral to get back together. Their roars were one and the same with Jenny and Shirley’s.

    This memory flashed though my mind and within seconds I understood. Jenny and Shirley had known each other before and during that time had forged an intensely close relationship. This was a reunion.

    The powerfully joyful vocalizations continued for some time, with Jenny and Shirley groping each other all over. I cannot convey how thick the love was in the air. I was too caught up in the emotional exchange to register just how long this went on but it could have lasted close to 30 minutes.

    By the time the volume of their reunion subsided, Shirley was emitting short, sweet sighs and Jenny had melted into the steel bars that separated them, their trunks draped across each other faces.

    I knew I had just witnessed a miracle, the first of many that I would be privileged to witness in the years to come.