Adine shares a close-up moment with the wild herd & 10-year-old albino elephant in the reserve

Recently, Adine came across the wild herd at night in the reserve. While she waited for the elephants to pass her car and continue on their way, she spotted the albino elephant in the herd and shared a special close-up moment with this unique elephant – seen at about 2 minutes into this clip.

We can’t help but imagine little Khanyisa the same big and beautiful healthy size while watching the albino elder in the Reserve ☀️ and we feel fortunate to be able to observe her in the wilderness and learn more about albinism in this way — especially as albino elephants are extremely rare.

Adine has spent many moments watching this albino female and her wild herd and they appear to be comfortable enough to approach (breathtakingly) closely! 🐘

This albino is now about 10 years old, in excellent condition and still part of her same close-knit herd of elephants (even as albino elephants can sometimes be rejected by their own herd due to their condition).

She now has her own calf — who shows no signs of albinism and is doing extremely well.

The older albino was first seen in 2010, in the Reserve, shortly after she was born, as a pink-skinned baby elephant that surprised us all! She is now approximately only one to two shades lighter than other elephants her age. This is because, as the albino animal ages, its skin darkens and acquires greater resistance – contrary to humans with albinism. 💕

You can read more in our blog:
Adult Albino Elephants – What to Expect for Khanyisa as She Grows Up:
https://herd.org.za/adult-albino-elephants-what-to-expect-for-khanyisa-as-she-grows-up-as-an-albino/