Khanyisa’s integration with the Jabulani HERD – 2nd day with Bubi and Zindoga

Khanyisa enjoyed such a happy and peaceful morning with her new elephant family.

She spent quality time with Bubi, an older female recently introduced who has become a strong allomother to her. (An allomother is another member of the family that provides maternal care in conjunction with the primary mother figure in this case, rather than the birth mother).

Lundi (Khanyisa’s adoptive mother) was graceful and happy to share her maternal duties with Bubi, and Bubi seemed to love every minute of it, often touching and reassuring Khanyisa, like many of the others.

In our video update, Elephant manager Tigere Matipedza explains how they collect fresh dung from each elephant during the interactions, which is then tested and compared to samples taken before the integration process started. We then send these to a laboratory for testing.

Their dung contains glucocorticoids, metabolites of stress hormones, which are excellent indicators of possible stress. The corticoid levels in the faeces will provide an accurate indication of the stress levels of each specific elephant. The Jabulani team do this continually as part of their elephant care routine.

At the end of the morning interaction, we encouraged Lundi to walk with Khanyisa out of the Jabulani stables area and across towards the orphanage to say goodbye to Khanyisa, who then quickly joined Herman for a delicious bottle of milk.

Many people are asking if the females are lactating (able to produce milk). Even though Khanyisa continues to latch on to their teats and make the motions of suckling, they do not have milk, as they are on contraception. However, it still provides immense emotional comfort to Khanyisa.

Our elephant care team will continue to provide milk for Khanyisa until such time she is weaned, which will be at approximately 4 – 5 years old.

Khanyisa had a lovely morning, and so did we, watching her settle into the love and protection of her new family.

We hope you enjoy the latest video update!