Because Lady is still spending time in the male Asian yards, we opened up the remaining yards so the other five elephants could roam wherever they wanted to go. During the evening, there was what sounded like a loud Rana trumpet. Just to make sure all was well, Scott and Kat looked at the observation camera and saw Maia and Bambi in Yard 1 and Rana and Mara were heading their way. It was the first time the four of them had seen each other since Maia and Bambi went roaming in Yard 5, which was about a week prior. Everyone seemed slightly tentative and Bambi walked a little ways away from the group.
We weren’t sure if the dynamics would change again now that the four elephants were in the same yard together. Bambi has been attached to Mara for so long that we didn’t know if she’d go back to her old ways and choose Mara again. But Bambi seems to have finally shifted in her mindset. She seems to understand that Maia is providing her with the kind of friendship that she needs right now, but also one that she has never really been the recipient of.
Sometimes the four girls would stand together and at other times they’d be split into their two respective groups. Initially, every time that Mara would move near Bambi, Maia would put herself in a position between the two of them, so she’s apparently feeling protective of Bambi. At one point, Mara moved quickly toward Bambi and Bambi acted as though she was going to leave, but instead just backed up until her bottom was touching Maia’s. Bambi appeared to relax at that point.
It seems Maia has a sense that Bambi has a deeper emotional need and appears to have volunteered to be there for her. Perhaps she remembers her own initial insecurity and is giving back some of what Guida gave to her. But it was nice to see that the four of them could share space and socialize - though trust issues clearly remain for Bambi as far as Mara is concerned.
16 апр 2024
