Six Years On | Khanyisa’s Remarkable Rescue Journey

Today marks six years since Khanyisa was rescued from a poacher’s snare, beginning a journey that has inspired so many around the world. From her fragile early days as a rare albino calf to the joyful, curious juvenile she is today, Khanyisa has grown, healed and flourished with the love of her elephant herd, her carers and supporters around the world.

Let’s take a look back at her journey and milestones over the past six years.

2020: Khanyisa’s First Year at HERD

Rescue and Arrival: Khanyisa was rescued on 7 January 2020, severely injured by a snare that had trapped her head, severed part of her left ear and caused deep lacerations. She was found alone in the wild, arriving at HERD on 8 January.

Early Rehabilitation: The first months focused on wound care, infection management and stitching, followed by stem cell treatments to aid skin regeneration. The love and dedication of her carers, Adine and Tigere, along with her sheep companion Lammie, were vital during this period.

Integration with the Herd: Khanyisa began gradual integration into the Jabulani herd, starting with short walks and slowly building up to full days with her adoptive mother, Lundi, her allomothers and the rest of the herd.

Emotional Healing: Alongside physical recovery, Khanyisa gained confidence, joy and trust, overcoming the trauma of her early experiences through the herd’s protection and guidance.

Growth and Strength: Khanyisa progressed from a dehydrated 124 kg calf to a healthy 280 kg by the end of the year, overcoming challenges such as diarrhoea, low iron and nutritional adjustments.

Play and Social Bonds: She formed important bonds with herd members, particularly other young orphans like Timisa and Kumbura, learning social behaviours, play and herd dynamics.

Blankets and Comfort: Khanyisa received a series of knitted and donated blankets, providing warmth, comfort and a sense of security. Each blanket carried its own story and connection to supporters around the world.

Community Support: HERD’s global community played a crucial role, from foster parents and donors to social media followers, helping ensure Khanyisa’s care and well-being.

Milestone Moments: By the end of her first year, Khanyisa had fully settled into her herd, learned essential skills and grown stronger, healthier and more confident.

2021: A Year of Growth and Milestones for Khanyisa

Integration into the Herd: Khanyisa continued her integration into the Jabulani herd, growing more confident each day and spending full days alongside her adoptive mother, Lundi, her allomothers, and the wider herd.

Building Friendships: She formed strong bonds with other young elephants, particularly Timisa and Kumbura, learning the social skills and playful interactions essential to herd life.

Healing from Trauma: Her wounds, a reminder of her snare injuries, fully healed thanks to the ongoing care of our team and Dr. Peter Rogers.

Physical Growth: Khanyisa experienced rapid physical growth, reaching a healthy 480 kg by year’s end, a testament to her resilience and the round-the-clock dedication of her carers.

Baby Tusks: She began developing her tusks, rubbing them curiously against surfaces.

Increasing Independence: Daily routines became increasingly independent, with Khanyisa exploring, foraging, swimming and following herd life more confidently while still receiving milk and blankets for comfort and warmth.

Blankets and Support: Her blankets, both knitted and donated, continued to provide care, security and joy, each with its own story and connection to our wider community of supporters.

Lessons from the Herd: The herd continued to nurture her, teaching essential survival skills, social lessons and offering protection, while Khanyisa taught us all about courage, trust and the power of a second chance.

A Thriving Young Elephant: By year’s end, Khanyisa was a thriving, playful and strong young elephant, fully immersed in herd life and showing the promise of a bright future ahead.

2022: Raising a Baby Elephant

Early Care and Night Duties: Baby elephant Khanyisa, now around two years old, continued to receive round-the-clock care from HERD carers. Nights were spent monitoring her alongside companion sheep Lammie and Nungu, ensuring milk feeds, safety and observation of her health, urine and dung.

Integration into the Herd: Gradual integration into the Jabulani herd progressed throughout the year. Khanyisa learned to forage, swim, play, wallow and follow herd routines.

Nutritional Milestones: Her milk formula was regularly adjusted as she transitioned to more solid food, including branches, grasses, fruits and vegetables. Daytime milk bottles supplemented her nutrition while carers managed feeding logistics in the bush.

Physical Growth and Health: Khanyisa grew stronger and healthier, losing her first set of molars (a natural developmental milestone) as she approached three years old. Occasional health challenges such as diarrhoea were managed by the team, including vet Dr Peter Rogers.

Rehabilitation Achievements: Khanyisa’s severe snare injuries from 2020 had fully healed by 2022, with stem cell treatments and veterinary care ensuring her recovery. Her scars remained minimal.

Learning and Social Development: Khanyisa absorbed vital skills from observing and mimicking older elephants like digging for bulbs, sand and mud wallowing, social behaviours and careful swimming. Her playful relationship with Timisa highlighted her growing social confidence.

Allomother Bonds: Kumbura and Bubi played critical roles as surrogate mothers, guiding Khanyisa’s development, providing protection and reinforcing social learning. These bonds were essential for her emotional and social growth.

Human-Elephant Connections: The bond between Khanyisa and HERD founder Adine, as well as her dedicated carers, remained pivotal in her rehabilitation and emotional security.

Orphanage Graduation: Khanyisa was gradually weaned off nighttime milk bottles, preparing her for full independence with the herd. Her last days in the orphanage marked a seamless transition to living full-time with the Jabulani herd, with no tears, only joy, play and new beginnings.

Milestone Memories: Over the year, Khanyisa’s playful personality, determination and resilience shone through. From mischievous trunk investigations to sprinting across the bush, she continued to inspire all who followed her journey.

2023: Growing Strong and Independent

Milestone Weight: In April, Khanyisa reached 876 kg, a clear sign of her thriving health thanks to milk feeds, supplemental foods and guidance from her herd and carers. She continued to grow steadily toward one tonne, marking her physical development and resilience.

Continued Milk Feeding: Milk bottles remained a key part of her routine, supporting nutrition and growth. The HERD team reflected on her early fragility and trauma, recognising the balance between strength and vulnerability as Khanyisa healed from snare injuries and adjusted to life with the herd.

Skill Development in the Bush: Khanyisa continued to refine her foraging skills and bush survival techniques, learning to carry branches, pull bark and reach high foliage alongside older elephants like Tokwe, Fishan, Sebakwe, Zindoga and Lundi.

Health Monitoring and Resilience: Regular weigh-ins captured her growth trajectory and provided insight into her recovery from illness or bouts of diarrhoea. Each challenge was met with careful care, veterinary support and the reassurance of her herd and human carers.

Gradual Independence: The year focused on supporting Khanyisa’s transition to self-sufficiency, with the herd taking the lead in teaching, protection and companionship. Carers continued to assist her at her pace, fostering confidence, physical strength and social integration.

Community and Supporter Engagement: Donors and foster parents remained integral to her journey, enabling the continuation of milk supplementation and care.

Reflection and Celebration: 2023 celebrated not just growth in size, but the culmination of years of rehabilitation, patience and loving care. Khanyisa’s increasing independence marked a new chapter in her life, while preserving the bonds and support systems that had nurtured her from her earliest days.

2024: Welcoming a New Friend & Growing into a Juvenile

Introducing Phabeni to the Herd: Phabeni, a wild orphaned bull, was gradually introduced to the herd. Setombe took on the role of surrogate mother, with Lundi and Kumbura offering support. Khanyisa, initially unsure and jealous, became calmer and curious, showing the potential for friendship between the two young elephants.

Herd Support & Bonds: Timisa and Khanyisa both showed great interest in Phabeni during his introductions, highlighting the nurturing, protective and inclusive nature of the herd. Matriarch Tokwe oversaw interactions, ensuring safety and structure during these critical bonding moments. In no time, Khanyisa and Phabeni shared a special bond.

Continued Care for Khanyisa: Khanyisa, now five years old, reached juvenile status. She benefited from a gradual weaning plan, with milk supplementation continuing as she built independence in foraging, swimming and feeding from the bush.

Reflection on Growth: The year marked a significant milestone in Khanyisa’s journey from fragile calf to confident juvenile. Her early trauma, including snare injuries and separation from her mother, had been met with exceptional care from both humans and elephants, fostering resilience, curiosity and independence.

Community Engagement: HERD supporters continued to play a vital role in Khanyisa’s development, providing care, resources and encouragement for both her and the herd.

Celebrating Five Years: 2024 highlighted the first five years of Khanyisa’s life, a period of growth, exploration, learning and bonding. It marked the transition from calf to juvenile, celebrating her survival, health and blossoming personality as she continues her life in the bush with her elephant family.

2025: The Final Bottles & Celebrating Growth

Khanyisa Fully Weaned: After five years, Khanyisa received her final milk bottle in January, marking the end of a significant chapter. This milestone symbolised her transition from dependence on humans to full independence within her elephant family. Carer Adine reflected on the bittersweet emotions of letting go, likening it to “empty nest syndrome.”

A Different Milk Day: For the first time, HERD had no elephants on milk. Khanyisa and Timisa, both rescued orphans, had successfully transitioned from bottles to solid food. This highlighted the resilience of the calves and the dedication of the care team over many years.

Post-Weaning Care: While milk was no longer part of their diet, Khanyisa and Timisa continued to receive nutritional support, such as cut sweet potatoes and apples, ensuring their ongoing health and energy during drier months.

Reflections on Growth and Independence: 2025 marked a profound shift in HERD’s work, celebrating the first generation of elephants fully weaned under our care. Khanyisa, now a confident juvenile, symbolised hope, resilience and the power of consistent nurturing from both humans and the herd.

Six years on, Khanyisa stands as a shining example of resilience, care, and the power of community. From her first days at the orphanage to exploring the bushveld with her herd, she has grown into a strong, independent young elephant. Her journey reminds us that even in the face of hardship, love and support can transform lives. Thank you for following her story and for being part of every step of her six-year journey.

If you would like to support Khanyisa’s journey by joining her adoptive family, click here to find out more.