A Big Day! Khanyisa and Jabulani meet, trunk-to-trunk

Today was a big step in the integration of little Khanyisa into the Jabulani herd – as the calf albino met Jabulani face-to-face, trunk-to-trunk in the stables.

Khanyisa was following Adine around in the morning at HERD, as she likes to do. Adine needed to visit the Jabulani herd, so she stepped out of the nursery to see the elephants in the bush, but Khanyisa wanted to be by her side. Adine returned to the stables and took Jabulani with her and then opened for Khanyisa to come inside. As Adine headed to the stables, Khanyisa followed after her and then the moment came… Jabulani and Khanyisa, no barriers, touching trunks.

Jabulani is the original orphan whose brave journey, having been rescued 23 years ago, led to the creation of our orphanage in 2019.

Khanyisa is still at times apprehensive with these new sights and smells, but she was much more relaxed today in the stables than ever before. After meeting with Jabulani, Khanyisa headed off to help Adine clean, joyously attacking a lucern bale, playing with a branch and eating dung. The tractor was moving around her and she continued to play and go back to Adine for reassurance once in a while. She is more relaxed with the carers in the stables.

We have changed her milk as she continues to grow and we are happy to say that she has no side effects or diarrhea. Even with the new routines, meaning that she isn’t under stress.

This special big step assures us more than ever that the herd will soon accept Khanyisa as one of their own.