How Kumbura Found Family | 16 Years Since Her Rescue

This month we celebrate a very special milestone: 16 years since Kumbura was rescued and welcomed into the Jabulani herd. Gentle, graceful and deeply empathetic, Kumbura’s story is one of resilience, healing and the irreplaceable bonds of family.

A Fragile Start

In August 2009, a young Kumbura was seen wandering alone along the Limpopo River on the border of Botswana and South Africa. She was without her herd, without her mother and visibly distressed. Although we will never know the full story, it is likely that her mother had been killed by poachers. At only around 18 to 24 months old, she was far too young to survive on her own.

For three long months she endured this solitude, a heartbreaking time for such a social animal. Reports of her sightings reached our team, and when the call finally came, elephant carer Joshua Dube and the late Elephant Manager, Paul Coetsee, travelled north to assist. The first attempt to rescue her ended in sadness when the frightened calf bolted into the bush. But weeks later, she was seen again, and Paul returned without hesitation. This time, the rescue succeeded.

Kumbura was transported south to HERD, exhausted, undernourished and deeply traumatised. She had survived the unthinkable, but her future would depend on the healing power of trust and family.

Healing in a New Home

Those early days were not easy. Kumbura wanted nothing to do with people. She kept her distance, standing silently at the farthest corners of her paddock, too wary to join the herd when called. Winning her trust required patience, gentleness and consistency.

But the greatest gift came not from people, but from the elephants. From the very beginning, matriarch Tokwe and motherly Lundi welcomed her with kindness, while Sebakwe, the herd’s tall and steady bull, became her protector. Whenever the youngsters grew too rough or teased her, Kumbura would dash to Sebakwe’s side for comfort and safety.

Slowly, surrounded by these bonds, she began to open up. Day by day, her walls came down, and a new chapter began.

A Natural Nurturer

Kumbura grew into a tall, elegant female with sharp tusks, expressive eyes and a gentle spirit. Over time, her instinct to care for others became unmistakable. She is known among the carers and the herd for her attentiveness to calves and her patience with the most vulnerable.

When Timisa arrived in 2016 as a young orphan, Kumbura stepped naturally into the role of allomother. She shadowed her, guided her, and ensured she never felt alone. Years later, she would do the same with Khanyisa, the tiny albino calf who needed extraordinary support to adjust to herd life. Kumbura’s calm presence, watchful eyes and soft trunk offered Khanyisa the reassurance she needed to thrive.

It is impossible not to wonder if Kumbura’s nurturing instincts come from her early family life, perhaps she once had siblings to care for before tragedy struck. What we do know is that she has channelled her own loss into empathy, becoming one of the herd’s most reliable protectors and caregivers.

A Name of Remembrance

Kumbura’s name holds its own layer of meaning. “Kumbura” is derived from the Shona word meaning “to remember”. It was chosen in remembrance of Adine’s late father, Johan Roode, who passed away in the same month that Kumbura was rescued. Sixteen years later, her life and her name continue to represent remembrance of loved ones, of resilience in the face of hardship and of the extraordinary bonds that carry us through.

Sixteen Years On

Today, Kumbura is no longer the frightened calf who hid in the shadows. She is a cherished member of her herd family, a tall and striking elephant with an unmistakable tenderness. She continues to teach us about patience, kindness and the importance of community.

Her story is a reminder of how fragile beginnings can transform into powerful legacies when compassion, care and second chances come together.

💚 Happy 16th Rescue-versary, Kumbura. You are proof that hope, once restored, can last a lifetime.