As a geriatric elephant, Sissy has age-related health considerations, including advanced arthritis. Earlier this year, she transitioned to the Willow Barn and Habitat, a quieter area of The Sanctuary designed to support more individualized care and comfort. The flatter terrain at Willow is especially beneficial for an elephant with mobility limitations, and its location next to the Elephant Health Care Center allows for more expedient observation and support from our full-time Veterinary and Care Staff teams.
Staff had observed that Sissy was no longer lying down to rest in her previous habitat area. While some elephants spend more time resting recumbent than others, opportunities for recumbent rest can become increasingly important as elephants age. In response, Care Staff made several thoughtful adjustments within Willow, including refreshed indoor sand and additional substrate options underfoot to encourage more comfortable recumbent rest, and a custom headrest designed to support standing rest. These adjustments speak to how lifetime care is in the details, and The Sanctuary believes each elephant deserves solutions designed specifically for them.
In addition, because of paresis, or trunk weakness, drinking from automatic waterers placed throughout Sanctuary habitats can sometimes be more difficult for Sissy. Dr. Stephanie McCain, DVM and Associate Director of Elephant Health and Wellness, shared, “Since relocating closer to our Elephant Health Care Center, Sissy has learned that if she thumps on the waterer with her trunk, a staff member will drop what they're doing to come running and offer her water directly from the hose. She has us well ‘trained,’ and we all enjoy those visits with her very much.”
Sissy continues to show her personality in familiar ways. Recently, Care Staff observed her engaging with specialized spring enrichment items, exploring nearby habitat spaces and olfactory experiences with neighboring elephants at her own pace, and utilizing a variety of areas throughout Willow Habitat, including wooded sections, the large barn, and shaded areas along the outdoor patio.
