Khanyisa, a precious albino elephant, was rescued and brought to the “HERD” sanctuary in South Africa by Adine Roode, who established the elephant orphanage and sanctuary.
There, she was warmly welcomed by the Jabulani elephant herd, who embraced her as one of their own.
Growing up under the care of the sanctuary’s keepers and elder elephants, Khanyisa formed a special connection with her allomother (nanny) named Klaserie.
Klaserie loved caring for Khanyisa, but sometimes her attentiveness made her forget her strength. The dynamics within the herd had changed over time, not because of the baby elephant, but as the elephants grew and developed unique characteristics.
Khanyisa had experienced several allomothers since joining the herd, but recently Klaserie stepped up to take special responsibility for the albino calf.
Afternoons in the elephant world are dedicated to sharing joys, learning new skills, and nurturing the young ones.
Khanyisa and Timisa, another member of the herd, provided opportunities for the female herd members to enhance their skills and gain experience.
Klaserie, being Setombe’s daughter, had grown up under protection, unlike her mother, who was an orphan. The allomother enjoyed interacting with the herd members, but sometimes she became overly attentive towards the younger ones.
Khanyisa spent her time foraging on green grass and small trees, and her caring allomother was always by her side to lend assistance.
Khanyisa’s trunk was not yet strong, but with help, she could access the branches, bark, and bulbs gathered by the other elephants.
Like human babies, elephant calves need to learn everything from scratch and develop their skills with age.
The herd’s social structure plays a crucial role in Khanyisa’s upbringing. With Klaserie taking on babysitting duties for the albino calf, other herd members get a well-deserved break.
Read more Elephant News.