In Zimbabwe, an unusual herd thumps the arid earth. Although they couldn’t be more different, the orphaned elephants and their human handlers are a close-knit family. The rangers of the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery have become surrogate fathers to these calves, supporting them through great loss and hardship. Travelling more than 700 kilometres, the group has embarked on a journey that has never been done before in this region.
From birth, elephants form unbreakable bonds with their herd who they stay with for most of their lives. So when these creatures lose their family, it can take them years to heal. Every day, more than 50 African elephants are killed, leaving their calves abandoned, vulnerable, and in danger. Wild Is Life established the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery, also known as WIL-ZEN, for the sole purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating these orphaned elephants. Along with a team of dedicated rangers, the centre provides round-the-clock care for every individual calf. The handlers treat the elephants like their children, enabling the animals to recover from their past traumas and learn to trust again.
With support from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the ZEN Project is giving these creatures a second chance at life in the wild. Partnering up with the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, the team secured a 25-year lease in the Panda Masuie Forest Reserve. The 34 000-hectare protected area is now home to one of the largest populations of elephants. In 2018, staff set the Panda Masuie Release Project in motion, and moved the first ZEN herd to the region. After an arduous 16-hour trip from the heart of Harare, the team and their oversized passengers arrived at the reserve. With some encouragement from their handlers, all six elephants began testing the waters of their new home. The environment allows for the group to interact with wild elephants, with the hope that they will eventually integrate into other herds.
Since the reintroduction, two of the elephants have made a full transition into the wild, while the others are making gradual progress under the watchful eye of their handlers. Thanks to the compassion of countless conservationists, these orphaned elephants are finally forming their own family.
Footage by the International Fund for Animal Welfare was used in the creation of this film.
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