There have been some exciting new interactions unfolding across habitats as Flora continues to encounter several of her elephant neighbors! Flora first met fellow African female Mikki overnight along the shared barrier between Redbud and Hickory Habitats. The two engaged in some playful sparring before eventually going their separate ways for the remainder of the night.
The following morning, Edie, another African female, approached the barrier to meet Flora for herself. Flora responded with a couple of light head rams, a natural behavior for elephants, while Edie remained nearby, continuing to reach out with her trunk to interact. Mikki soon joined them, and African male Artie even made his way down from Woodland to take part in the activity along the fence line.
Since those first interactions, Caregivers have observed Mikki and Edie frequently seeking out Flora overnight. Sometimes the elephants engage in playful interactions, while other times they simply choose to spend time near one another on opposite sides of the barrier.
Punch has also had an opportunity to meet Flora. She approached the Sleepy Hollow gate with her ears extended, and the two spent about 10 minutes interacting before Punch made her way back toward Hickory Barn.
These interactions offer another glimpse into the complex social lives of elephants and the importance of providing opportunities for choice and social connection. As Flora, Mikki, Edie, Punch, and their neighbors continue to explore these new relationships at their own pace, The Sanctuary team will be watching to see how their interactions develop.