ELEPHANTS
How to Provide Specialized Care Elephant baby in Recovery
Rescued elephant calf captivates with remarkable recovery journey from poacher’s trap.
Khanyisa found refuge at Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD) in South Africa on January 8, 2020, under dire circumstances.
The four-month-old calf bore a trap tightly wound around her head, causing dislocation of the top flap of her left ear and inflicting wounds across her head, neck, mouth, and cheeks.
Although she managed to disentangle the trap from the ground, it clung firmly to her head, incessantly cutting into her flesh and causing considerable pain.
The HERD team was uncertain about her survival, given the severity of her injuries and emotional trauma.
CA_NEWLINE_CA “It is unclear whether her herd had abandoned the pale-skinned calf before she was trapped or after the incident. The fact that she survived for so long in the wild is a testament to her resilience, though she was dehydrated, and her eyes had swollen shut from the pressure exerted by the trap and the swelling around her head. The trauma she endured, though not immediately visible, undoubtedly runs deeper than the physical pain she suffered,” stated HERD in a release.
Khanyisa’s head swelled, and she could barely open her eyes. However, after a restful night, she woke up noticeably improved the next day. The swelling had reduced, and she could now open her eyes, revealing her beautiful blue gaze.
During the initial two weeks, the team focused on treating and cleaning her wounds. On January 16, wildlife veterinarian Dr. Peter Rogers stitched both sides of her cheeks. Two weeks later, he removed some dead skin around her wounds and sewed her right ear.
As her mouth wounds healed, Khanyisa faced difficulty drinking from milk bottles, but her caregivers persevered to get it right. Eventually, by week four, the elephant was consuming most of her required milk intake.
Due to her improved diet, the young elephant showed significant weight gain. She weighed only 124 kilograms upon arrival, but by the end of February, she had reached 159 kilograms, indicating a gain of 35 kilos!
CA_NEWLINE_CA As a baby elephant’s condition can change rapidly, Khanyisa’s caretakers monitor her every move hourly. Any noticeable changes prompted swift attention from the staff.
Adine Roode, HERD’s founder, initiated stem cell treatment for Khanyisa’s wounds in the final stages of her recovery, which proved successful. By March, all of Khanyisa’s wounds had healed.
Once her physical rehabilitation was complete, the team gradually introduced her to her new waiting family – the Jabulani herd of rescued elephants, all of whom are orphans themselves.
They began with daytime walks into the herd’s stables to acquaint her with the environment and the scents of her future family.
CA_NEWLINE_CA Jabulani was the first elephant she met, trunk to trunk. Lundi, an older female in the Jabulani group, was chosen to be Khanyisa’s surrogate mother. She then met each elephant one by one until fully accepted into the herd!
The elephant calf also had a companion sheep named Lammie, making her rehabilitation and integration much smoother.
“At a time when we needed it the most, she gave us hope, inspiration, and joy, having survived her traumatic start to life, healed from her injuries, overcome illness, and been accepted into a new herd of her own. She has consistently overcome every hurdle with a remarkable spirit of resilience and determination, inspiring us to do the same,” said HERD of Khanyisa.
The nine-month recovery journey of this elephant is truly heartwarming and inspirational. Witness her bond with her companion in the image below. Share this remarkable story with your friends and family!
