Lucky the Dancing Elephant

Since the Wildlife Alliance staff spends a lot of time caring for our rescued elephants, we learn so much about their specific temperaments, habits, likes & dislikes.

Lucky is a very special, expressive elephant. She's been at the Phnom Tamao Rescue Center since she was orphaned at 8 months old & would have been killed in conflict with villagers.

Lucky walks with an almost constant smile on her face. She is so relaxed, in fact, that her eyes are almost closed when she's around us. Of course, a very long time ago, she experienced the trauma of losing her mother, but she now is a typically happy elephant, raised with so much love, walking and swimming everyday in the same places and enjoying the constant closeness of her familiar elephant ("ellie") friends. She is charming and could win anyone over through her affectionate ways -- her mouth opens so wide that when she smiles, you can see her tongue!

If you'd like to know more about our work at Wildlife Alliance, please visit www.wildlifealliance.org, follow us on Twitter (@wildliferescue) & "like" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WildlifeAlliance). We'd love your support!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Wildlife Alliance
• elephant
• dancing
• dance
• funny
• lucky
• animal
• rescue
• Cambodia

[WildlifeAlliance]

Lucky was trained, to a certain extent. This is the reason we are able to take her out into the forest for walks, without which her life would be very much less happy. Concerning the dancing,there has been no unkind coercion in implementing this. Lucky was hand raised by her keeper, Sitheng. He loves her as much as he loves his children, and Lucky feels the same about Sitheng. She also has no objection to the dancing, after all she receives food rewards for her efforts.

[bradhebertfail]

Is that Dengue Fever?

[Daynus0003]

Elephants don't necessarily need to be trained to "dance". They just need to be traumatised and kept in captivity. It's called stereotypy and is generally due to a lack of mental stimulation. The folks that run elephant shows just play music to it and call it dancing. I'm assuming this video is showing evidence of either this elephant's traumatic past, or its inappropriate living conditions today.

[TheSocialPetwork]

Lucky's got moves.

[Sunhealer]

Lucky you rock!

[ChouBunny]

this is sooooo cute!

[THEMICA42]

Sick!!!!!