The Beautiful Bond Between Baby Elephant Khanyisa & Her Carer, Reply ☀️

As we approach Khanyisa’s 4th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, we are looking at the people who have played a vital role in her journey, like orphanage carer, Reply.

Reply Mahlakwana comes from HERD’s surrounding community. He spends most of his tending to the needs of orphaned calves like Khanyisa and ensuring Sunshine is fed, healthy and happy. Reply had his first experience with both adult and baby elephants at HERD, which has since sparked an immense love for these wonderful animals.

Our HERD Elephant Carers are the backbone of our work in caring for, providing for and protecting elephants orphaned or displaced due to human-elephant conflict. They are men and woman of great qualities – patience, dedication, empathy, compassion, strength, and knowledge. As a team, the carers spend up to twelve hours a day with the elephants in the bush – working in two shifts, morning and afternoon. The elephants safety and wellbeing is in their hands as the herd forage, play, explore, swim, and walk in the wilderness together each day from sunrise to set.