This season brought exciting new introductions and important healthcare milestones for the elephants at The Sanctuary. Mikki was introduced to both Artie and Osh across protected barriers.
The first meeting was with Artie, who is known for being especially social with females. True to form, Mikki showed confidence from the start—approaching quickly with ears wide and dirt flying. The two immediately engaged in natural sparring behaviors, intertwining trunks and pushing against one another over the fence. Care Staff observed this as a healthy, expected interaction between African elephants establishing boundaries and testing strength.
When it came time to meet Osh, the energy was quite different. Anticipating trunk touches, bows, or playful vocalizations, Care Staff instead witnessed a calm encounter. Osh chose to wander into the woods to browse, while Mikki stayed behind munching on produce. Each elephant set the pace for this introduction, and Staff look forward to seeing how the relationship develops in the weeks ahead.
In addition to these social updates, Osh recently participated in his first full set of radiographs. Working carefully with his Care Staff, Osh moved his foot incrementally across the radiograph plate, allowing images of each toe to be taken. His willingness to participate and the trust built through training made the procedure a success—an excellent example of how Protected Contact and positive reinforcement support comprehensive healthcare.
Watch Mikki and Artie meet for the first time!
