Elephant Update-Midsummer Magic

Midsummer means the daytime temperatures are in the 90s, classically hot and humid, conditions suitable for elephants. After the sun sets the temperature drops into the comfortable 70’s, creating the opportunity for elephants to “dump the heat” they absorbed and stored in their core during the day.

Mundi and Bo Love a Downpour

This year, unlike last, we have been blessed with frequent rain showers that cool things down, quench the thirst of acres of vegetation and trees, refill the many water holes, ponds, and lakes, and refresh the elephants, soaking them to the bone.

The rain brings out play behavior in Bo and Mundi, who prefer the shallow mud hole in a noisy heavy downpour. EleCam viewers are privy to Mundi’s daily antics, rolling around in the muddy water, splashing, and driving her solitary tusk into the soft clay, and then crashing through the trees!

Tarra Caked in Earth

Tarra prefers to cover herself with thick dark mud from one of the many elephant-excavated dirt pits, coming out caked with dripping rich earth nearly her natural color.

Bo, Tarra, and Mundi have settled into a predictable summer self-directed routine. Early morning finds all three together, calmly grazing side by side. When their morning food is delivered, they eat unhurriedly, savoring each plum, carrot, and watermelon slice, selecting their favorite vegetable, and combining it with a large pellet of specially formulated grain.

Cozy Companions

Over the past month, Tarra has spent most of her time communing, grazing, and napping with Bo and Mundi. Her comfort with Bo was immediate, and recently it is obvious that Tarra enjoys Mundi’s company as well. How can we tell? Thanks to the EleCam we have observed Tarra remain relaxed and comfortable whenever Mundi approaches. She continues eating, seemingly unconcerned, with Mundi right beside her. And both nap with their bodies gently touching as they dream.

Sister Turkeys

Egrets have joined the herd and three sister wild turkeys have claimed ERNA as their safe home. The other evening a young grey fox was seen investigating the elephant barn. And every morning deer, raccoon, armadillo, and opossum tracks can be found crisscrossing the many dirt paths throughout the habitat.

The Good Life

We feel blessed by your support and continued dedication to Mundi, Bo, and Tarra’s wellbeing. It is our pleasure to serve them to ensure their continued good life.

Boost Our Mission:

Engage with Our Facebook Posts and Help Us Earn!

Did you know that your interactions on our Facebook page can make a big difference for Elephant Aid International (EAI)? Each like, comment, and share not only spreads our message but also helps us earn money through Facebook's Performance Bonus Program. Here’s how your engagement benefits EAI:

1. Enhanced Visibility: Every time you engage with our posts, it increases our visibility. Facebook’s algorithm favors posts with high engagement, meaning more people will see our content. This helps us raise awareness about elephant welfare and our ongoing projects.
2. Community Building: Your comments and shares help build a strong, supportive community around EAI. Engaging discussions and shared stories bring us closer together, creating a vibrant space for all elephant lovers and advocates.
3. Financial Support: Through Facebook's Performance Bonus Program, high engagement directly translates to financial rewards for EAI. These funds support our mission, allowing us to improve the lives of elephants.
4. Greater Reach: When you interact with our posts, your friends and followers see it too. This ripple effect can introduce new supporters to EAI, expanding our reach and impact. More supporters mean more people understand the problem facing captive-held elephants and more resources to help elephants in need.

Your participation is more powerful than you might think. So next time you see one of our posts, take a moment to like, comment, or share. Your engagement not only supports EAI’s mission but also helps us earn essential funds. Together, we can make a bigger impact!

Thank you for being an integral part of our herd!

Wishlist

Dive into the EAI Wish List and discover a treasure trove of goodies for our elephants, with donations starting at just $3! There’s something for every budget and every elephant lover.

Whether it’s daily essentials like elephant feed and nutritional supplements or cool gear like foot care tools and habitat equipment, you can pick an item to gift (or chip in for) and we’ll grab it for our elephants in your name.

Shopping from our Wish List is also a fantastic way to celebrate a loved one’s birthday, anniversary, or holiday. Make their day special while supporting our incredible elephants!

Premium Turmeric for Elephants

Diane Taylor, Maranda Newsome, and Ed Taylor

You may know the benefits of turmeric for humans, but did you know it is also a powerful supplement for elephants? Thanks to the American Turmeric Company of Thomasville, Georgia, for the last two years the elephants at our Refuge have received a unique donation each month— 300 pounds of premium-grade Turmeric!

We asked the company’s owners, Diane and Ed Taylor, to share with our supporters more about their locally grown crop and their support of Bo, Tarra, and Mundi.

What motivated you to help the elephants and EAI?

Diane: “Carol was my inspiration. She called me and we chatted about her passion to save Bo. Her story evokes a unique inspiration of how our inner being can feel the pain of others. Feeling the pain of another is the deepest expression of love that exists—animals and humans. It is truly a Divine Direction.

Carol is a role model for young people today. It is a manifestation of the magnificent charge to love and become one with others. Carol’s life and that of so many others she has touched are forever changed because we recognize that we too must find a way for our innate passion to find expression in doing good to and for others.”

How long have you been growing turmeric?

Diane: “We began growing turmeric and other herbs after I experienced a traumatic brain injury. I learned to ferment turmeric before I grew it because Asian science reported its benefits for mental health. I believe it saved my sanity and health. I threw out my meds for Alzheimer’s and depression. We fermented what I bought then I began to grow it. We found turmeric rhizomes in Asian Stores. We planted 6,000 rhizomes in 2015— our first ‘GARDEN’.”

What makes your turmeric unique?

Diane: “Our Turmeric is grown without chemicals of any kind. Our soil was deeply enriched with volcanic minerals-woodchips-manure-mulch and a Japanese probiotic from wheat bran and black strap molasses known as ‘Bokashi’.

Our products do not undergo any chemical extractions, or drug delivery system processing such as Nanosized–Liposomes–Extracts, etc. Consumers have been trained to think that turmeric and its main anti-inflammatory ingredient, curcumin, cannot be absorbed in our guts unless they are altered by endless processes. Turmeric and curcumin have been absorbed for thousands of years without any problem–certainly without any danger. Just ask the elephants!

Our fermented turmeric is very unique because it increases absorption, stimulates gut health and probiotic growth, and contains large amounts of a special starch that feeds our good microbes and increases our biodiversity of microbial species.”

Tell us about the process you use to create a premium grade product?

Diane: “We use no heat, chemicals, adulterants, or natural flavoring or scents. Our only process is the one used over 3,000 years ago in China to preserve and increase the value of turmeric for consumption— fermentation.”

Is there a special process for preparing/packing the turmeric for the elephants?

Diane: “No – Bo Mundi and Tarra get the same wonderful clean turmeric that humans get.”

In addition to supplying the elephants with their high quality, lead-free turmeric, the American Turmeric Company created a page on their website to promote EAI’s Refuge. It even has a link to the EleCam. https://www.americanturmeric.com/elephants

Our many thanks to owners Ed and Diane Taylor, and Maranda Newsome–Director of Production for their dedicated and continual support of Bo, Tarra, and Mundi’s health and well-being!

A Special Thank You - Subscriber Premiere Video

Rainy Day Friends!

Click the image above to watch.