News and Alerts » June 13, 2008

Wanda Update - Wonderful News About Wanda

June 13, 2008

Friday the 13th was a very happy day for all of us who have worried about Wanda’s health, her foot problems, her arthritis and her mental condition since Winky’s passing.

Wanda has been going out into the habitat with Annie and Rebecca, and we have observed improvement in her gait and her agility, so we were delighted to see her sliding down the bank and into the lake on that warm, sunny day.

She remained there for over an hour, and we kept checking to be certain we had not mistaken her for Annie, who is our most aquatic elephant. Wanda snorkeled, submerged, rolled, bobbed and splashed in the water, then dined on cattails and bulrushes before leaving. As she moved up the path to her favorite hill, we noticed how quickly she was moving and the flexibility of her ankles which usually are rigid when she walks.

Wanda’s personality is priceless when she is feeling well, and that day she was perky to say the least. She came in with Rebecca and they shared a long, warm bath from the hose before returning to the barn for dusting, dining and a little gossip among the girls. Her squeaks and rumbles resonated through the barn as she and Rebecca touched trunks, pushing and shoving as they rubbed against Wanda’s street cleaner brush and fished for popcorn from their hay nets.

Wanda is moving all over the habitat again, swishing her tail and swinging her fat little butt as she climbs to the top of the hill for a nap. Inappropriate as it seems, cute is the only description that fits her 8500 pound personality.

Friday the 13th was a great day for Wanda!