The Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development organisation is South Africa’s first elephant orphanage. Adine Roode founded this vital sanctuary as a response to poaching.
Her passion for this species is evident in her work, as Roode and her team work tirelessly to nurture, rehabilitate and reintegrate elephant orphans into a new herd.
HERD is based on the same property as the Jabulani Safari Lodge on Kapama Private Game Reserve. The founding elephant of this reserve, a bull, was suitably named Jabulani. The herd of elephants within the Kapama reserve have taken on orphaned elephant calves as their own.
The orphanage is situated next door to the Jabulani Herd stables. Elephant orphans are carefully introduced to the herd in order to build familiarity and to facilitate bonding. When the time is right, the elephant calf will be fully integrated into the herd.
Interestingly, most of the Jabulani Herd are orphans themselves. Exactly 5 elephant calves have been born to the Jabulani herd since 2006.
‘Five elephant calves have been born to the Jabulani herd since 2006, as well as an additional two orphans, have been introduced, so the intra-herd dynamics have changed significantly over the years,’ says the Jabulani website.
In a statement on HERD’s website, Roode said: ‘In my time spent working with Jabulani and HESC, elephants and the conservation of their species has become my life, my passion, my purpose. With the elephants, I have been fortunate to become part of their herd in many ways, just as the carers who spend day and night with them are.
‘I have felt the sense of belonging with the embrace of their trunks, the vigour in the babies with each head-butt during feedings and the very real power of a fully-grown elephant while sharing the ground with them, almost cheek to cheek.
‘I have learnt so much from our years of working in elephant conservation, rehabilitating and re-wilding elephants, and am driven and excited to be creating this on an even bigger, more dedicated scale with the establishment of Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD).’
The story of the Jabulani herd has truly been a unique one. Their work is revered throughout South Africa and to many parts of the world.
The most recent addition to this incredible facility is Khanyisa, a female albino elephant calf. In January, she was found ensnared and severely injured. The team at HERD have worked day in and day out to get her to where she is today. This tot has grown from strength to strength and has captivated the team.
Her story had a heartbreaking start but her will to survive is inspirational. In March she was slowly introduced to members of the Jabulani herd and today she enjoys excursions with them, under supervision of course. One ellie in particular, a female elephant called Bubi, has taken Khanyisa under her wing.
Little Khanyisa’s story is a testament to the hard work, dedication and selflessness that is the HERD foundation. Adine Roode and her team have committed themselves to protecting this special species and their work is admirable.
Image credit: HERD
