Termite mound treats for little Khanyisa

Little pick-me-ups for little elephants 🐘💛

Among all the measures our team is willing and happy to go to for little Khanyisa this one is particularly unique! 🌿 It involves termites!

A short while ago, when Khanyisa was experiencing diarrhea and low energy, we tried a few known tricks to help her while waiting for her blood and dung results. 💕 One of those tactics included a termite mound in the orphanage grounds!

Adine remembered that little orphan Mopane loved to destroy a fresh termite’s work-in-progress, especially after rains when it was still soft, and help himself to the mud inside. 🐘

“I believe there are various minerals coming from the ‘speeksel’ (saliva) of the termites,” Adine says, “and well, they do share the orphanage space without paying real rent… So I shared the termite mountain with Khanyisa. I did feel bad destroying the termites’ hard work, but I told them that it was for a good cause. It was a bit of a balancing act standing on top of the termite mountain while all the termites fled into their tunnels (and very kindly, didn’t bite me).”

Nature has all kinds of answers to our different needs, for both elephants and humans, 🌿 and the more time we spend with the herd the more we see the different nuggets of ancient animal wisdom among them.

So if you’re ever feeling down, remember the saliva of termites.

🎥: seen here, Adine collecting termite mound soil and, toward the end of the clip, Khanyisa enjoying her treat! 🌟