By Sunel Craythorne | Donor Care Officer
Khanyisa continues to delight us with her unique personality and her special place in the Jabulani herd. Though she is no longer a baby, she remains the youngest and most vulnerable member of the family and in many ways, still “our baby.”
She enjoys her naps in the bush, where the females gather protectively around her, shading her with their bodies and flapping their ears to keep her cool, just as they would with a young baby calf. This tender care shows how deeply the herd values her, and it reminds us of the vital role babies play in keeping elephant families united.
Khanyisa is growing quickly, her tusks and height often make me mistake her for Timisa at a distance. Standing side by side, Timisa is still taller and broader, but Khanyisa is catching up fast. Both young elephants still receive their morning treats of sweet potatoes, apples, and pellets, though Khanyisa’s love of food sometimes sparks sibling rivalry. With Herman’s special bond to her since day one, we must carefully manage feeding to prevent jealousy and competition, ensuring both youngsters grow into confident, cooperative herd members.
Despite her youth, Khanyisa shows courage and curiosity, often approaching bulls without hesitation. At nearly six years old, she has not yet come into oestrous, but her time will come. Until then, she remains the baby of the herd, playful, eager, and learning every day from her companions Timisa and Kumbura.
We are grateful that no new orphaned calves have arrived due to human wildlife conflict. Yet, we know that calves are the lifeblood of elephant herds. They bring joy, strengthen bonds, and give young females like Khanyisa the chance to learn “allomothering” — the essential skill of caring for babies before they have calves of their own. A new arrival would give the herd renewed purpose and ensure the continuation of their matriarchal traditions.
Until that day, Khanyisa will remain our cherished youngster, a symbol of resilience and hope. Thank you for walking this journey with her and with us. Your support ensures that Khanyisa and all the elephants of HERD continue to thrive in safety, love, and family.
With gratitude,
Adine & Everyone at the HERD Team
PS: If you’d like to revisit our earlier reflections on the vital role calves play in elephant families and the importance of herd social structures, you can explore these blogs:
If you are inspired to help Khanyisa again, please visit the project page Raise Khanyisa Orphaned Elephant Snaring Survivor to make a donation.
By Sunel Craythorne | Donor Care Officer
By Sunel Craythorne | Donor Care Officer
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
