She recently boarded a special elephant caravan with her pal Sita and traveled more than 1,200 miles, day and night, through torrential rain, to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center in Mathura, India. 

Mia and Sita were running away from decades of circus exploitation. Mia and Sita were locked up and unable to truly lay down to rest when they weren’t performing. 

When Mia reached the refuge, she appeared to pass out in relief upon being released from her bonds. Recently, Mia was seen taking a leisurely daytime snooze, something she hadn’t done in years.. Yet as a videographer drew closer, she still raised her head and fanned her ears for the camera. She gave the camera an almost-smile before sinking back into the lovely mud to resume dozing.