Maria had waited years for a chance like this. After internships at sanctuaries, long volunteer shifts, and more coursework than she cared to remember, she finally stood inside Grand Valley Zoo as an official elephant keeper, her first full-time position.
The mixture of hay, warm soil, and distant animal chatter felt like the scent of a new beginning. And she fit into the job more easily than she expected. The team liked her. The routine felt natural. Most importantly, the elephants accepted her.