Help an Elephant, Help a Herd

The last news was about our growing herd and how a new orphan joined them. It is with extremely heavy hearts that we had to announce the passing of this little bull, Phabeni. It has been a tragic loss for our whole team, our supporters, and of course the herd. The Jabulani herd is incredible in their unique acceptance of wild orphan calves who need a family made up of their own species. They bonded closely with little Phabeni but sadly had to say their goodbyes all too soon. You can follow the update about the events of Phabeni’s last day here: https://youtu.be/I6qmcGgGqv0, as well as see how the herd reacted here: https://youtu.be/sDRq5VT6uqI.

Elephants are incredibly intelligent animals and know when something is wrong. During Phabeni’s last night, and in the morning, during his passing, the herd stood outside the orphanage gate. They gathered there and after a while, they turned around and went to the stand under the homestead roof, waiting for the carers. On another morning, an unusual event took place as Tokwe, Lundi and some of the other elephants headed to the orphanage to look for Phabeni. Normally the herd walk in the opposite direction into the bush for their day of roaming. Matriarch Tokwe led the elephants to the orphanage. It was an emotional moment as the elephants no doubt realised that Phabeni was not joining them, and was no longer at the orphanage. Lundi investigated the smells on the ground closest to the orphanage. Phabeni’s adoptive mother, Setombe joined in the front to trace the scents and detect signs of her baby. Among the elephants here were: Tokwe, Lundi, Kumbura, Fishan, Jabulani, Setombe, Bubi, Zindoga and Klaserie. There is no way of avoiding this stress, this pain of losing a loved one, not for elephants or humans.

It will take time to heal from this. Phabeni was lucky in that he was able to find support from his own species again, and the imprint he leaves on the herd is obvious. He changed Setombe for the better, as the older female opened her heart to a calf who was not her own.

Even during the difficult times, we need to stay strong for the health and wellbeing of all the elephants in our care. We need to continue to look after the land they call home. With winter here it is more important than ever that we consider the state of our environment, and the land around the homestead and orphanage where the elephants walk and forage the most.

The work we carry out to support the elephants’ home, to protect it from degradation, includes techniques for combatting large erosion networks to prevent the loss of valuable topsoil, planning and revising road networks and associated infrastructure, and techniques that will revive the basal grass layer essential for ecosystem well-being, and strategies to protect existing large trees from being pushed over by the herd. The remaining community of large trees is critical for functioning core ecosystem services such as the hydrological cycle, pollination, micro-habitats for smaller members of the ecosystem, and simply to shade animals from the sun. We are working to create an environment that can sustain our herd and every other member of this complex and ever-changing ecosystem.

There is never a dull moment when watching our elephant herd enjoying themselves in their bush home, doing what elephants do best. Keep an eye on our YouTube channel to stay up to date with the activities of the herd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EkU26JN1uE&t=375s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0gZmjutKWE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyHNkrMtOA4

Follow HERD online:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HERDElephantOrphanageSouthAfrica

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HERDElephantsSA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herd_elephants/

Thank you again for your ongoing support and compassion.

Yours in conservation

Adine and the HERD Team

The entire herd of elephants in our care has been through a great change recently. A very exciting change for them all.

They have always shown their unique affinity towards wild orphan calves and did so once again recently as they met the new little bull orphan at HERD and accepted him without hesitation. Several individuals in the herd have really stepped in to help support and protect this new calf, named Phabeni, giving him a glimpse at his future with a herd once again.

Phabeni was rescued in November 2023, after he was found alone on a private property outside the Kruger Park, without his mother or herd anywhere in sight. He was saved and brought to HERD, where we quickly got him onto essential milk bottles throughout the day and night. Dedicated carers watch over him in the orphanage at night, and during the day, he now joins the elephants in the wilderness for walks, foraging time, bonding, swimming, and learning the vital elephant lessons that the herd will teach him.

This new member of the herd is bringing out the best in Setombe, the eldest and dominant female, as she has taken Phabeni in as her own. We never expected such a show of mothering from the usually nervous Setombe, who has never shown such enthusiasm for an orphan calf before. Watching her with Phabeni is incredible, as our supporters on YouTube will note. Read our blog for more information about how each individual in the herd responded to the first introductions: https://herd.org.za/blog/an-incredible-chaotic-introduction-for-phabeni-all-the-elephants-in-the-herd/

Khanyisa is certainly getting used to the newest and now youngest elephant in the herd, and adapting slowly to the realisation that she is no longer the baby and complete apple of the herd’s eye. The dynamics are sure to change as every new calf in a herd shakes things up and causes the elephants to take on new roles and learn and practice new skills. We are excited to keep watching the social structure and development of the herd, with Phabeni a sweet part of their growing family.

Each of these majestic creatures, with their individual stories and distinct personalities, plays a pivotal role in building a love that has spread across the globe. The herd goes beyond conventional boundaries, redefining the concept of “family” by accepting others into their space and challenging their instincts. When trying to explain the depth of such a unique love, the most fitting term that comes to mind is “empathy”, and it is a reminder that striving to achieve such a kind of love should be a goal in our everyday lives.

Phabeni still overnights at the orphanage with Lammie and Spotty the companion sheep, and like Khanyisa, he still relies on milk bottles. Khanyisa will likely be weaned fully soon, but it is a slow process, and for now, she is still very attached to her daily drink stop with the carers.

We are in the process of setting up solar power at HERD, helping to power the homestead, orphanage, and other vital operations without expensive, eco-unfriendly generators, when loadshedding (forced power outages) strikes. You can read more about this endeavour here: https://herd.org.za/solar-campaign/ 

Keep an elephant eye on our social media platforms for daily updates and news.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HERDElephantOrphanageSouthAfrica

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HERDElephantsSA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herd_elephants/

Thank you again for your ongoing support and compassion.

Yours in conservation

Adine and the HERD Team