The Wild Adult Albino Elephant on the Reserve

We are fortunate to have another albino elephant (who is approximately ten years old), on the same reserve that our orphanage is located in.

She is part of a wild herd and is around ten years old with a healthy calf of her own now (her calf is not albino).

Adine tries, where possible, to spend time observing the adult albino amongst her herd, in the hope of becoming more familiar with what to expect as Khanyisa grows older.

Not much research is readily available on albinism in elephants and so learning first-hand from watching this female certainly teaches us a lot about how Khanyisa’s own journey and changing body might progress.

In this video, Adine pulls over on a dirt road in the wilderness around Jabulani and introduces us to the albino as she stands foraging with her calf closeby. Adine spots a male bull from the albino’s herd approaching and then follows the group as they continue on through the bushes.

This special albino female was first seen in 2010, shortly after she was born, as a pink-skinned baby elephant that surprised us all! Much like special albino calf, Khanyisa!

She is now about only one to two shades lighter than other elephants her age, since, as albino elephants age, their skin darkens (and becomes more resistant to the sun). 🌸 But you can still spot her pink hue in the creases of the skin, under the trunk and tail, as well as the toenails and eyes.

Both the albino mom and her calf appear to be doing well and look happily at home in their big wild herd. 💓 A beautiful sight to see!

You can see more footage and find more information in a recent blog that we shared: