Winkie celebrates ten years at the sanctuary today. These past ten years have been a journey of discovery, trust and growth. Winkie arrived with an intensity that was incomparable to most Asian elephants. She had a past reputation of lashing out at keepers and solving any dilemmas with violence, and from the beginning, it was evident how fractured her spirit had become.
For her first 3 days at the Sanctuary when not in the company of other elephants, she incessantly paced, and for 3 days she was given the space to decide how she wanted things to play out. On that third day, while Scott was cleaning the stall next to her, she backed up to the bars and gave an unassuming vocalization, eliciting his affection. Although cautious, that touch was transforming; her body immediately loosened and her one tiny vocalization erupted into a variety of noises and trunk taps.
Sissy helped her over her next hurdle: leaving the barn. Although Jenny and Shirley had tried to usher her outside, Winkie decided she wasn't ready, but that didn't deter Sissy. She would return back to the barn and wait outside. If Winkie did not come, she would join her other sisters, but return to see if it was time yet. Then one random day (to us of course) it was time... Winkie followed Sissy outside and began to explore. But they didn't remain in close proximity to the barn as Sissy usually had, together they ventured to places neither had been; and so began the symbiotic healing relationship of Sissy and Winkie. Although Sissy took Winkie under her wing, it seems Winkie's reliance on Sissy gave her a sense of self and confidence that facilitated her own healing as well.
Together they have overcome many obstacles, but Winkie still dealt with some internal struggles. Her insecurities still had the ability to get the best of her, resulting in her being pushy with other elephants (to ensure they wouldn't be pushy towards her), and unable to fully trust most humans. With things that would come easy for the other Girls, you could visibly see the conscious effort that Winkie had to exert; it was work for her. But she was determined, and continued to open in new ways, and then we were reminded that in some instances, healing is a forever process.
On a morning in which she had been stung in the eye, Winkie had a momentary lapse of self. When one of her caregivers walked around to view her eye, Winkie turned, swung, and crushed her. Continuing to lash out, her actions were only quelled by repeatedly yelling her name—and just like that—Winkie snapped out of it. She immediately became quiet, passive and approachable. She exited the state as quickly as she had entered it. On that day of July 21, 2006, we not only lost a genuine, caring friend that was deeply loved by both elephants and humans, Joanna Burke, but we also temporarily lost Winkie. For days, she placed herself where the fences met up into a corner, and shunned affection from both her trusted sister and her closest caregivers—she was punishing herself. Her actions hung over her for weeks, and although she slowly allowed others back in, her self-inflicted sentence made everything harder to bear.
Gratefully, Winkie realized that she still deserved to be cared for, loved, and happy, and again she put forth the effort to return there. She did not allow this tragedy to define her any more than the reputation that had preceded her arrival. Although handled with extra awareness and adjusted parameters, her spirit and freedom are nurtured just like all of the Girls. There is a protective feeling that comes with Winkie. There is no question that she is strong, yet to have seen her so fragile opens up a special place in your heart for her. Winkie is nothing short of remarkable.
Over the past year and a half, she has grown by leaps and bounds, and her once visible effort only shows its head on occasion. Shirley's softer side allowed for better relationships, which instilled more confidence in Winkie. This confidence showed in an increased comfort in herself, and overall contentment. She found the ability to shrug things off that would have bothered her in the past. She no longer stressed at Sissy being a short distance away, and then soon began to wander on her own. To look upon Winkie, grazing alongside her sister with a wet spot on her trunk, indicating that she has been making her “happy noises” so much that the mark is semi-permanent, or watching her gently touch one of her sisters, you don't see all of the things she has endured, and that is part of her beauty. She isn't perfect, and it hasn't been easy, but Winkie has refused to give up on attaining the one thing we should all feel we deserve—happiness.
For more information about PTSD in elephants, visit this link.