47 Albino ellie rescued from a snare

REAL LIFE

BY GABRIELLE OZYNSKI

RESCUED FROM A PINK, blue-eyed albino orphan ellie has been taken in by HERD elephant orphanage. A SNARE

Roode recalls that day: “She was dehydrated and severely injured. The snare was embedded tightly around her head, causing deep lacerations behind her ears and neck, with the top of one of her ears sliced off during the process. The lacerations sliced into both her cheeks and into her mouth. The snare had wrapped itself around her face as she tried to free herself, causing those deep wounds. She had managed to remove the snare from the place it was set, and had been roaming with the snare wound around her face for approximately four days. Her cheeks had maggot infestations, due to the decaying flesh from the wounds.” Having a badly injured area around her mouth that required stitching, she was not drinking as much as the carers wanted. Now, though, little Khanyisa (meaning Light/Sunshine), as she has been named, is hopefully on the road to recovery. Her milk Khanyisa being bottle fed by caregiver Samson, with faithful companion Lammie in the background than that of rhinos, and require a more intensive approach. This is also why, for now, she is accompanied by a Pedi sheep called Lammie, a world famous surrogate mother/companion to orphan rhinos and other little elephants in the past. She is often by Khanyisa’s side, or not far behind, making sure the little ellie does not feel alone.” HERD was built alongside the Jabulani Stables and completed in August 2019. Previously elephant calves were raised at HESC, which is a 30-minutes’ drive away, and then reintegrated into the herd. Now HERD provides specialised care for elephant orphans until such time they are ready to integrate with the adult herd at Jabulani Safari. Planning Khanyisa’s reintegration, Roode is continually consulting with a team of professional

Shh! Sleeping baby! Khanyisa loves her caregivers – with Herman

intake is now above average, although Roode says they still would like to see her consuming more. The HERD team, together with their dedicated wildlife veterinarian team, Provet Wildlife Services, are treating the wounds daily, taking it step by step. “The biggest concern is to avoid infection during these healing stages. Her injuries are taking a long time to heal, but we knew they would due to the severity of them. Generally, though, her condition remains positive, her spirits remain up and she has good energy. Elephant calves are one of the most difficult wild animals to hand-rear. The mortality rates are incredibly high, as their condition can change overnight. (When they ‘teethe’ they can get diarrhoea and fevers, making them especially vulnerable to dehydration, which can prove fatal). They are entirely dependent on their mother’s milk. This means we need to step in ahead of introducing the little ones to our resident special Jabulani rescue herd, as the cows are not lactating. Baby elephants also have social and emotional needs that need special care too. The elephant species is a lot more complicated ELEPHANT calves areELE one of the most difficult wild animals to hand-rear. The mortality rates are incredibly high, as their condition can change overnight. Khanyisa with the Jabulani herd in the background

Khanyisa with HERD’s Adine Rood

elephant behaviourists and advisors to determine the best time to start the soft integration with the herd. Khanyisa has been introduced to the herd through the dividing fence between the orphanage and the Jabulani stables, and they continually communicate with one another. The matriarch, Tokwe, is frequently checking up on her through the fence, standing there even when the little one is in her nursery in the evenings. Before Khanyisa goes anywhere, however, her injuries will have had to heal completely. According to their rescuer, Lente Roode, the original Jabulani herd members were orphaned too and were rescued from Zimbabwe in 2002. “They are unique, as they accept elephant orphans from outside their own herd into their family, which is unheard of with wild herds.” Says Adine, “The strength of elephants’ family bonds and social dynamics are vital to their wellbeing and survival as individuals and as a species. We work together with experienced conservationists, carers and veterinarians to rehabilitate and rewild orphaned elephants to ensure that every elephant has a herd.” With ‘every elephant needs a herd’ being HERD’s motto, little pink elephant can look forward to joining this precious blended family, where she’ll be safe and looked after for the rest of her life. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP HERD GO TO FUNDRAISING@HERD.ORG.ZA OR WWW.HERD.ORG.ZA, AS THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED OF FUNDS FOR DAILY MEDICATION AND BOTTLE FEEDS.