Number of elephants in the herd
Jobs created through the orphanage
Orphans integrated into the herd
We rely on incredible people like you to keep us going. Every cent counts, and no contribution is too small. HERD relies on public funding to cover the operational costs to care for and support elephant orphans and the rescued herd, so we really appreciate your support.
Phabeni is an orphaned elephant that was rescued in November 2023. One morning, a woman living near the Kruger National Park woke up to find an elephant calf on her property. Unfortunately, there was no sign of his mother or herd. It is not known how the calf was displaced or how he came to be on the property, but he was likely separated from his herd through some event and was unable to find his way back or escape from the property due to the fencing around it. With the help of officials from Nature Conservation at the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency – including the veterinarian who helped rescue Khanyisa – the calf was transported to Kruger National Park's Phabeni gate, where the HERD team was waiting for him. The calf was named Phabeni, which means "shelter" in Sotho.
HERD is the First Dedicated South African Elephant Orphanage. The unfortunate truth is that there are an ever-increasing number of orphaned and displaced elephant calves in South Africa. This is linked to the rising poaching numbers, taking mothers away from their calves before they can fend for themselves in the wild. And that’s where HERD comes in, acting as their unique adoptive family to help raise them in a safe environment.
Be a champion to the HERD elephants by hosting a third-party fundraising event to aid HERD Trust. Give your time and resources to help spread the word about elephant orphans, rehabilitation and integrations. The funds you raise will directly go to our initiatives and make a vital difference to the herd and elephant conservation.
You can support HERD by purchasing items from our various cause marketing partners or become one of our donation partners by setting up a monthly contribution to support the HERD elephants.
Our carers are the real behind-the-scenes superheroes. It’s not a job to them, but a calling, and they step in as our elephants’ “human herd” to help them, from the initial rescue operation, to feeding and monitoring them, as well as stepping in swiftly when they’re in need. Our carers lovingly nurture and protect our elephants around the clock to ensure their wellbeing.
Browse our media library to take a look inside our elephant sanctuary and meet our beloved elephants.
Want to hear the latest and greatest stories about what the elephants are up to? No two days are the same, and they always amaze us with their distinctive personalities and acceptance of one another. Follow us this way for all the latest stories of what’s happening at HERD.
