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Khanyisa has a new storyteller that we need to introduce you to; documentary filmmaker Hermien Roelvert-van Gils.
For the past 17 years, Hermien has produced, directed, filmed, and edited documentary content focusing on the environment. She is Khanyisa’s storyteller in “Diary of an Elephant Orphan.”
“Diary of an Elephant Orphan” follows the journey of baby elephant orphan Khanyisa and her passionate team on their mission to integrate her back into an elephant herd. Little orphan elephant Khanyisa miraculously survives severe dehydration and malnourishment after being trapped in a deadly poacher’s snare. After being rescued and nursed back to health, a much larger challenge awaits her: she needs a family. The experienced team knows that a wild elephant herd will likely not accept her. The next best option is to try with a semi-wild family – one made of orphaned elephants themselves that had been rescued from Zimbabwe 25 years ago. Will this herd of 15 elephants accept little Khanyisa? Will these large, 3-tonne animals allow the human carers to feed the baby her milk in the bush in Big 5 territory? The team hasn’t attempted this with such a young elephant before, but they know it’s best for her in the long run. If they pull it off, this might change the face of elephant rehabilitation in South Africa.
Follow the documentary’s YouTube channel for outtakes >
Get film festival updates here: www.diaryofanelephantorphan.co.za
The beautifully crafted, South African-produced nature documentary Diary of an Elephant Orphan has started screening at the international film festival circuit. The film has been screened at the Romford Film Festival (UK) and Encounters Documentary Film Festival (SA). It will head to other festivals this year, including the Chesapeake Film Festival (USA) in September.
Written and directed by wildlife and environmental filmmaker Hermien Roelvert-van Gils (Africa Rivers Wild, Boshospitaal) of Skydrum Films, Diary of an Elephant Orphan follows Khanyisa, a four-month-old orphaned albino elephant calf, who is rescued from a wire snare.
Over the past decade, Southern Africa has seen an increase in orphaned and displaced elephant calves. The reasons are primarily increased poaching of elephants and other large game, together with human encroachment and destruction of traditional elephant habitats. This led to the creation of HERD Elephant Orphanage for baby elephants, founded by Adine Roode. This orphanage would also provide an adoptive family structure, which is so important for the physical and emotional well-being of orphaned baby elephants.
In the documentary, we see new elephant orphan, Khanyisa at HERD elephant orphanage after her rescue. As Adine and her team fight to save the young calf’s life, the question remains: will Khanyisa be able to be adopted by the Jabulani elephant herd and secondly, will this herd allow the human carers to continue to feed her as Khanyisa is totally reliant on milk from human carers.
The Jabulani herd is unique in that it comprises, for the most part, previously orphaned elephants. This makes the herd more accepting of other orphans compared to wild elephants. By doing so, Adine and the team hope that the Jabulani elephant herd can change the face of elephant rehabilitation in South Africa because it is best to have the orphans mentored and guided by their own kind into adulthood, with as little human interaction as possible.
The documentary was shot over four years at HERD Elephant Orphanage, based in the Kapama Reserve, home to the Jabulani herd. This is the first wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa dedicated solely to orphaned elephants, and Hermien shines a light on the groundbreaking work being done by orphanage owner, Adine Roode and her passionate team of elephant carers.
”I shot continuously for most of the time,” says Roelvert-van Gils. “To fully capture the reality, the documentary couldn’t be shot in a week or even a month. I had to become almost part of the HERD team, they had to accept me (the people and the elephants). Only then, could I enter their space, and ask about their dreams and fears with the camera rolling”.
The film was a labour of love for Roelvert-van Gils; however, she was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster ride that making this documentary would prove to be. “Shooting Diary of an Elephant Orphan has been a long journey with many great highs and devastating lows in which the team, the elephants and I have experienced great loss – but we came to understand and respect one another’s loss. The loss I suffered made me truly understand the pain and suffering the young orphans went through. It created a need within me to capture the true feelings on the ground so viewers can not just watch the story, but feel as if they are there next to me.”
“It’s a ‘little’ film with big heart. As a one-man band, I couldn’t compete with the big production houses in terms of expensive gear, lots of crew and big budgets, so I had to think out of the box, and it paid off. I think the film punches above its weight, and I am super proud of that!” says Roelvert-van Gils.
The film started with its official film festival run.
It can only be seen at selected festivals, the most recent of which was the Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival. The documentary received two special mentions, one for the Encounters Al Jazeera Award for Best African Documentary. From the jury panel: “Diary of an Elephant Orphan receives a special mention for using the emotional journey of an orphaned elephant to draw much-needed attention to the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict.”
The film’s website and social media platforms will have the latest screening information. Diary of an Elephant Orphan is distributed in Southern Africa by Indigenous Film Distribution.
SKYDRUM FILMS (PTY)Ltd · info@skydrumfilms.co.za
Diary of an Elephant Orphan Website: www.diaryofanelephantorphan.co.za
Indigenous Film Distribution: www.indigenousfilm.co.za
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@diaryofanelephantorphan
Skydrum Films: www.skydrumfilms.co.za
HERD Elephant Orphanage: herd.org.za
