From her first day of real freedom, Mary lived every day as though it were her last, savoring and enjoying every moment. She is a beautiful elephant with a lovely rounded face, soft brown eyes and long lashes.

Eleanor was initially not very fond of Mary, probably viewing her as a threat to her Matriarchal status, since Mary was a lot older than the others in the group. From l994 Mary began to spend a lot of time away from Eleanor, often with other wild herds, and sometimes with just "Taru" of whom she has always been very fond. In December l995 she gave birth to a bull calf, whom we named "Donald", in honor of Don Hunt, who gave her the freedom all elephants crave.

When Eleanor's unit returned to the dry season range in February l996, Mary and her baby (and Taru) were with them, but our Keepers reported that Eleanor was very possessive of the new arrival, encouraging it to suckle her, instead of Mary, and shoving Mary around every time she approached. In the end, Mary managed to repossess her calf with the help of Taru and Thomas who escorted it back to its mother. Mary then left Eleanor's unit, and has since settled into another Matriarchal unit. So Mary is truly a wild elephant now and another triumph for the Trust. She has always avoided coming back to the Elephant Night Stockades in Voi, and by now must have had a second calf born probably in 1999 and pregnant with her third.