The Shambira Research Centre | A Name That Carries Two Legacies

Some names are given once. This one carries two legacies.

The Shambira Research Centre honours two lives whose stories became forever intertwined: Israel Shambira, a devoted elephant carer, and Limpopo, a beloved member of the Jabulani herd.

Through research, learning and conservation, their legacies continue to shape our commitment to understanding elephants, improving their care and contributing to a future where both elephants and the people who care for them are better supported.

Why the Name Matters

In September 2025, HERD lost two cherished members of its family within days of each other.

Israel Shambira was one of HERD’s longest-serving elephant carers, having cared for the herd since their arrival from Zimbabwe in 2002. Deeply respected for his compassion, humility and unwavering dedication, he shared an extraordinary bond with the elephants, particularly Sebakwe. On 13 September, Israel tragically lost his life following an incident involving Limpopo. He left behind his wife and eight children.

Limpopo was Tokwe’s firstborn and the first calf born into the Jabulani herd. Raised within the security of her elephant family, she represented hope for the future of the herd. Following Israel’s passing, every possible option was explored to safeguard both the herd and the people entrusted with their care. On 19 September, after an attempted relocation presented further safety concerns, the heartbreaking decision was made to euthanise Limpopo.

The events of that week profoundly affected everyone connected to HERD.

From that loss came a commitment to learn. The Shambira Research Centre was established to deepen our understanding of elephant behaviour, physiology and wellbeing, helping us identify patterns, recognise indicators of stress and contribute to safer, evidence-based conservation practices. Every insight gained honours a commitment to learn from the past while helping protect the future.

By carrying both names in its story, the centre honours the lasting impact that Israel and Limpopo continue to have on HERD’s work.

What Shambira Means

Shambira is Israel’s family name, one that continues through his wife, children and future generations.

It is also a Shona word meaning “to swim” – to move through water with purpose and intention.

Limpopo herself was named after one of southern Africa’s great rivers. Together, the two names reflect continuity: a river that keeps flowing, connecting one place to the next and one chapter to the next, and the determination to keep moving through it. For HERD, they represent a commitment to continue learning, even through loss.

The name honours an elephant whose life continues to inspire scientific inquiry and a carer whose compassion, knowledge and dedication helped shape the herd for more than two decades.

Looking Deeper

The purpose of the Shambira Research Centre is to deepen our understanding of elephant wellbeing through behavioural observation, wildlife endocrinology and long-term scientific research.

Its work seeks to better understand the physical, behavioural and social lives of elephants, contributing knowledge that supports their welfare, conservation and the people who dedicate their lives to caring for them.

Research begins with observation, but it depends on listening.

Listening to elephants through their behaviour.

Listening to science through the data.

Listening closely enough to recognise what we understand, and equally, what we have yet to learn.

Every discovery brings us closer to understanding the complex lives of elephants and how we can better protect them.

Where Compassion Meets Science

At HERD, compassion and science are inseparable.

The Shambira Research Centre is both a place of research and a place of remembrance.

It is where rigorous science sits alongside remembrance, ensuring that every discovery contributes to a future that honours both the elephants and the people it exists to protect.

Its work combines behavioural monitoring, wildlife endocrinology and long-term conservation research with the lived experiences that inspired its creation.

Science gives us the tools to understand.

Compassion gives us the reason to keep asking.

Together, they guide HERD’s commitment to protecting elephants through evidence-based conservation, collaboration and continuous learning.

Continuing the Journey

The Shambira Research Centre does not tell the story of Israel or Limpopo separately.

Instead, it recognises that both remain part of HERD’s history and continue to shape its future.

As a place of discovery, remembrance and hope, the centre reflects HERD’s commitment to advancing elephant research, sharing knowledge and applying what we learn in service of elephants, the people who care for them and the landscapes they call home.

The Shambira Research Centre stands as a lasting tribute to Israel Shambira and Limpopo. Their stories continue to inspire compassion, curiosity and a deeper understanding of elephants, ensuring that their legacies live on through every question we ask, every insight we gain and every step we take towards a better future for elephant conservation.