this is my favorite video of the girls..it is breathtaking in the joy and love shared between the elephants. knowing that these wonderful animals are living in such an environment makes me so happy. some day i hope to see elephants in the wild but until then i enjoy the sanctuary, the webcams every day.
@veggiewarriors If you go to our Elecam page and click on the elephants' thumbnail photos, you'll see some descriptions of their distinguishing characteristics as well as a brief bio of each.
I clicked the "I like this" button, because I couldn't find a "I love this" button... How anybody can mistreat these gentle giants is beyond me. Thanks for all you do for all these precious creatures.
Its so sweet the way elephants snuggle to each other. I really seems that they are all getting along beautifully! Thank you very much for sharing this!
Thank you so much for the quick responses! It definitely helps clarify their actions. I did notice that Minnie was almost uncomfortable when she sat down and lifted her front leg, I felt so badly for her that she felt that she had to position herself this way for any reason.
No matter what, it is nice to see them all get along and have such caring actions towards each other.
Thank you so much for continually posting videos on their escapades! I love it!
Many thanks TES for sharing this wonderful video, which I find so spiritually uplifting. It seems Debbie, Ronnie and Minnie are enjoying the company of each other. They say two's company and three's a crowd, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Long may they continue to play peacefully.
Minnie seems to tower over little Ronnie. Is Minnie a big girl, or could it be that Ronnie is small for her species?
@maryea46 Ronnie is a bit on the petite side (her caregivers nickname her "peanut") and Minnie is our 2nd largest Asian elephant. Debbie is actually slightly larger than Minnie, but she is much more passive and reserved than Minnie, who is a bundle of energy.
Thank you for sharing the visit Minnie had with Debbie & Ronnie. It was so beautiful to see them getting along that way. Ever since I found out about your sanctuary it has been a dream of mine to get to spend time with elephants. Ty Ty Ty.
Is this going to be a continued ,gradual, daily process of re aquainting Minnie ?
When Minnie went in to a cirucs learned, unnatural positon, I defineately saw how hard it was on Minnie physically, (I'm sure there was a degree of emotional discomfort too)
However, it was her choice . . Could it have been Minnie's way of showing empathy re thier history.? I cry when I view this.Something VERY SIGNIFICANT to them was communicated.!
@BLUESBRIGADE The Sanctuary will continue to allow these visits--although not every day-- and see how it goes. Most of it is dependent on Minnie learning to respect the boundaries of her friends.
I just saw this posted on a friends facebook - how WONDERFUL! I did not even know this sanctuary existed until now and I am so excited to see it! I will def spread the word about your great work!
Oh my God, this in now one of my new fave videos, it looks like a dance of Elephant Ballet, very loving,graceful and in concert with one another. wow, I'm in awe of the intense emotions involved, TESS, certainly has given all these girls a new lease on life in their own elephant timing.
Can you give us a little insight on their actions? I know that it seems very sweet, but I almost wonder if the gentle pushing is a way of them trying to position themselves as the dominant individual. Debbie and Ronnie would almost have to be at least a little territorial, although you can see Minnie almost regress into a submissive position at the end with her doing one of her little circus tricks which I am sure she was doing to try and gain some approval from Ronnie.
@ediet516 The posture and gentle pushing from Debbie and Ronnie are not at all dominance based; neither act as a natural matriarch or dominant individual would. The interaction between Ronnie and Minnie were all about play, Ronnie is very outgoing, animated and silly. While the interaction from Debbie towards Minnie are a little more passive and slightly defensive, she was interacting just enough to pacify Minnie, without getting Minnie worked up to rough-and-tumble episode.
@ediet516 When Minnie sat on the ground and raised her trunk, she often does this while playing, even when there isn't another elephant around, so it was't submissive. Many circus trainers will say this proves that circus tricks are adaptations of natural behaviors that you see in the wild, but as you could tell when watching Minnie sit, this position takes a tremendous amount of strain and effort and puts significant pressure on the lower part of their abdomen, internal organs, hips and spine.
@ediet516 Lastly on the territorial behavior, although we do occasionally see some of this (We have witnessed Flora and Dulary do it before) we have never seen territorial behavior from Ronnie or Debbie. When it does happen, it is typically when another elephant comes into an area that has been “lived in" by the one defending that space. The area that Minnie, Debbie and Ronnie were in here in this video was primarily Minnie's space. Good questions!
Oh, HOW I LOVE these BEAUTIFUL CREATURES with all my heart. I would do ANYthing to go & visit you guys at the Sanctuary and get the chance to give these gorgeous girls my Love. Even if I had to scoop hundreds of pounds of poop, haul food & water to them where EVER in the property, or bathe and/or brush them. Just to be in their SACRED PRESENCE & give 'em ALL a BIG KISS & HUG & let 'em all know that I ADORE them, and will for my entire life. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
@Timothy2035 The elephants vary in their resistance to cold temperatures. Some prefer to stay in the warm barn, others like Minnie have been known to go swimming in the pond when it's 30 degrees. If it's a sunny day, most all of them will head outdoors.
That tenderness of elephants.
Artmusichg 2 months ago
beautiful thank you
2007bubbles1 9 months ago
this is my favorite video of the girls..it is breathtaking in the joy and love shared between the elephants. knowing that these wonderful animals are living in such an environment makes me so happy. some day i hope to see elephants in the wild but until then i enjoy the sanctuary, the webcams every day.
shellyloo53 9 months ago
How do you distinguish between them?
I know Shirley and Tarra have distinct features but what about the others?
veggiewarriors 10 months ago
@veggiewarriors If you go to our Elecam page and click on the elephants' thumbnail photos, you'll see some descriptions of their distinguishing characteristics as well as a brief bio of each.
elephantsanctuarytn 10 months ago
I thought Minnie was heavier than Debbie.
IrishMusicIsAwesome 1 year ago
I clicked the "I like this" button, because I couldn't find a "I love this" button... How anybody can mistreat these gentle giants is beyond me. Thanks for all you do for all these precious creatures.
Mike in Abilene. Texas
duallydriver2 1 year ago
Its so sweet the way elephants snuggle to each other. I really seems that they are all getting along beautifully! Thank you very much for sharing this!
hugwildlife 1 year ago
Watching this I am overcome.........theses creatures are magnificient. Thank You Elephant Sanctuary for existing!
sweetpea3339 1 year ago
Thank you so much for the quick responses! It definitely helps clarify their actions. I did notice that Minnie was almost uncomfortable when she sat down and lifted her front leg, I felt so badly for her that she felt that she had to position herself this way for any reason.
No matter what, it is nice to see them all get along and have such caring actions towards each other.
Thank you so much for continually posting videos on their escapades! I love it!
Edie
ediet516 1 year ago
Many thanks TES for sharing this wonderful video, which I find so spiritually uplifting. It seems Debbie, Ronnie and Minnie are enjoying the company of each other. They say two's company and three's a crowd, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Long may they continue to play peacefully.
Minnie seems to tower over little Ronnie. Is Minnie a big girl, or could it be that Ronnie is small for her species?
maryea46 1 year ago
@maryea46 Ronnie is a bit on the petite side (her caregivers nickname her "peanut") and Minnie is our 2nd largest Asian elephant. Debbie is actually slightly larger than Minnie, but she is much more passive and reserved than Minnie, who is a bundle of energy.
elephantsanctuarytn 1 year ago
elephants never cease to amaze me. what an awesome video. thanks so much for sharing. Good Luck Minnie!!!!!
ZGrmy 1 year ago
Thank you for sharing the visit Minnie had with Debbie & Ronnie. It was so beautiful to see them getting along that way. Ever since I found out about your sanctuary it has been a dream of mine to get to spend time with elephants. Ty Ty Ty.
pj2755 1 year ago
Is this going to be a continued ,gradual, daily process of re aquainting Minnie ?
When Minnie went in to a cirucs learned, unnatural positon, I defineately saw how hard it was on Minnie physically, (I'm sure there was a degree of emotional discomfort too)
However, it was her choice . . Could it have been Minnie's way of showing empathy re thier history.? I cry when I view this.Something VERY SIGNIFICANT to them was communicated.!
BLUESBRIGADE 1 year ago
@BLUESBRIGADE The Sanctuary will continue to allow these visits--although not every day-- and see how it goes. Most of it is dependent on Minnie learning to respect the boundaries of her friends.
elephantsanctuarytn 1 year ago
I just saw this posted on a friends facebook - how WONDERFUL! I did not even know this sanctuary existed until now and I am so excited to see it! I will def spread the word about your great work!
roxiehoven 1 year ago
It DOES look like a loving dance. Thanks for posting this. I support this sanctuary!
gingerandsugar 1 year ago
Oh my God, this in now one of my new fave videos, it looks like a dance of Elephant Ballet, very loving,graceful and in concert with one another. wow, I'm in awe of the intense emotions involved, TESS, certainly has given all these girls a new lease on life in their own elephant timing.
BLUESBRIGADE 1 year ago
Can you give us a little insight on their actions? I know that it seems very sweet, but I almost wonder if the gentle pushing is a way of them trying to position themselves as the dominant individual. Debbie and Ronnie would almost have to be at least a little territorial, although you can see Minnie almost regress into a submissive position at the end with her doing one of her little circus tricks which I am sure she was doing to try and gain some approval from Ronnie.
Fantastic video--<3
ediet516 1 year ago
@ediet516 The posture and gentle pushing from Debbie and Ronnie are not at all dominance based; neither act as a natural matriarch or dominant individual would. The interaction between Ronnie and Minnie were all about play, Ronnie is very outgoing, animated and silly. While the interaction from Debbie towards Minnie are a little more passive and slightly defensive, she was interacting just enough to pacify Minnie, without getting Minnie worked up to rough-and-tumble episode.
elephantsanctuarytn 1 year ago
@ediet516 When Minnie sat on the ground and raised her trunk, she often does this while playing, even when there isn't another elephant around, so it was't submissive. Many circus trainers will say this proves that circus tricks are adaptations of natural behaviors that you see in the wild, but as you could tell when watching Minnie sit, this position takes a tremendous amount of strain and effort and puts significant pressure on the lower part of their abdomen, internal organs, hips and spine.
elephantsanctuarytn 1 year ago
@ediet516 Lastly on the territorial behavior, although we do occasionally see some of this (We have witnessed Flora and Dulary do it before) we have never seen territorial behavior from Ronnie or Debbie. When it does happen, it is typically when another elephant comes into an area that has been “lived in" by the one defending that space. The area that Minnie, Debbie and Ronnie were in here in this video was primarily Minnie's space. Good questions!
elephantsanctuarytn 1 year ago
Such simplicity. Thank you for sharing the love.
onekinkstar 1 year ago
this is beautiful... and you do beautiful work... they mesmerize me...
TheBECVideos 1 year ago
Oh, HOW I LOVE these BEAUTIFUL CREATURES with all my heart. I would do ANYthing to go & visit you guys at the Sanctuary and get the chance to give these gorgeous girls my Love. Even if I had to scoop hundreds of pounds of poop, haul food & water to them where EVER in the property, or bathe and/or brush them. Just to be in their SACRED PRESENCE & give 'em ALL a BIG KISS & HUG & let 'em all know that I ADORE them, and will for my entire life. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
BigHrdB 1 year ago 3
Poor Minnie must be so lonely without Lottie. She sure seems happy to be with her friends again.
vzmkitty 1 year ago
really great how they are doing. I hope they continue doing well. How are they liking the recent cold snap that has affected the area?
Timothy2035 1 year ago
@Timothy2035 The elephants vary in their resistance to cold temperatures. Some prefer to stay in the warm barn, others like Minnie have been known to go swimming in the pond when it's 30 degrees. If it's a sunny day, most all of them will head outdoors.
elephantsanctuarytn 1 year ago
How awesome! Thank you for sharing!!
Cirin29 1 year ago