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Hoedspruit, Limpopo – 22 September 2025
The Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development Trust (HERD) continues to mourn the tragic loss of our beloved carer, Israel Shambira, who lost his life on 13 September 2025 following an unexpected incident involving Limpopo, a 19-year-old female elephant under our care.
In the days following the incident, our dedicated carers remained in a state of heightened stress and concern, particularly regarding the safety of being near Limpopo. After extensive consultation among our senior carers, HERD Elephant Manager Tigere Matipedza, and founder of HERD, Adine Roode, with additional guidance from elephant behaviour expert Brett Mitchell, HERD resolved to move Limpopo along with six of her companions to a secure 35ha enclosure at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC), located approximately ten kilometres away. The plan was to house the group at HESC under a temporary holding permit while a suitable long-term rewilding site could be identified. The remaining nine elephants were to remain at HERD.
The available enclosure allowed for the carers to manage Limpopo and the other elephants under a protected contact type of management. This decision was made on ethical and humane grounds to ensure the safety of HERD personnel and the responsible management of the elephants. The selection of elephants to be relocated was based on the best available data and the elephant social bonds.
On Friday, the 19th September 2025, as the selected elephants started their walk from the HERD boma, within a few hundred metres, the elephants from both groups began vocalising, becoming very excitable. The elephants, who had left, quickly returned to the others. During the excitement, unfortunately, Limpopo showed hyper-aggression towards one of our senior carers, Last Scholar, and our operations manager, Stefan du Toit, who was present as a safety guide. Despite our team’s best efforts to manage the situation, the escalating risk posed by Limpopo’s aggressive behaviour has ultimately made her presence unpredictable and unsafe for all staff at HERD and on the reserve.
Following further expert guidance and careful internal deliberation, HERD faced the devastating, however unavoidable decision to euthanise Limpopo. This unenviable decision was made to ensure the safety and protection of our staff and the welfare of the remaining herd. Limpopo was humanely euthanised.
This loss has left our carers, co-workers and immediate community heartbroken. Limpopo had been under our care since birth, and her sudden change in temperament remains unexplained. Since her passing, the rest of the herd has shown no signs of aggression and remains calm and settled.
Our thoughts remain firmly with Israel’s wife and children. We are committed to supporting his family during this painful time and have already been deeply moved by our community’s compassion. We are also honoured to welcome Israel’s wife and family from Zimbabwe to HERD, where together, we will pay tribute to his legacy.
Those who wish to support Israel’s family further can donate via https://herd.org.za/product/in-memory-of-carer-israel-shambira-family-fund/
We kindly ask for compassion and understanding as our team processes these traumatic events. HERD will continue working with advisors to strengthen our safety protocols and uphold our responsibility to both elephants and carers.
All existing and future adoption funds for Limpopo will be redirected into a dedicated elephant research and welfare fund, established in her memory to help strengthen future care and safety practices: https://herd.org.za/animal/limpopo/#foster
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has stood by us during this time of profound loss, helping us to honour the memory of both Israel Shambira and Limpopo.
Media Contact
HERD MEDIA and PR Team
Email: media@herd.org.za
Phone: +27 63 035 0507
Website: https://herd.org.za/
What a terrible situation to be in. Warm thougts to you all (ellies and humans) from Norway
Dearest Adine, carers and team. heartfelt condolences from me to all of you during this very sad time. Limpopo was so loved and the decisions that had to be made must have been devastating to all of you.
Please know that your care and commitment can never be questioned. I can only hope that, in time, answers will he found to explain her sudden aggression and behaviour.
Iam speechless ! I had adopted her . So broken hearted 😘💔 she was so beautiful . I would like to have an update if I can and why you think it happened! I’m sure there could’ve been another place that maybe you could’ve rehomed her . How can a sweet innocent elephant change so quickly ?
My heart goes out to all! There was no choice….no blame….just sadness. Adine do not put this on your shoulders! No one wanted this, nor its outcome! If it were preventable you would have installed it years ago! It does beg the question of carers carrying self protection in very sparse times like this? Is Tokwe okay? Continued prayers for the days and weeks ahead. May the Creator continue to hold you all tightly in his loving GRIP and breathe hope and Peace in all at Herd…elephants and staff~
I am so sorry you had to go through this and I know you would never have taken this decision had there been any other way. It’s impossible to do the work you do with a constant serious threat going on amongst the elephants and Limpopos aggression would only cause harm to humans and animals no matter what. I wish neither Israel not Limpopo had to leave us but I am 100% behind you. I wonder if she had some kind of issue in her brain that was causing her to lost it. I imagine you already checked for physical ailments.
Again I am so sorry for your double loss and the heartache you must all be feeling.
Stay well all of you
I like most are shocked by the accident that took the life of a dedicated man. I was also heartbroken to read of your decision regarding Limpopo. I have supported Herd, since the pandemic, when I came across videos of khanyisa. Over the years we have lost so many, elephants and career. After this recent tragedy I have decided to stop my support and adoption. Every life matters! We do not always known what’s best, but we often do what we know. It’s a heart breaking situation and I send God’s comfort and strength to sustain you and guide you going forward. Stay strong.
Devastated to read about Limpopo, but not particularly surprised. I do wonder what has caused her behaviour to change
Condolences to everyone at HERD for the loss of Limpopo, after Losing Israel so tragically this is a bitter pill to swallow, but, safety for everyone both human and animal has to come first
I know Adine will be feeling utterly bereft and I can only offer virtual hugs
I do hope that in time life will start to return to some kind of normality
Once again condolences for the loss of both Israel and Limpopo, we feel so sad for you all
I’m not at all certain there was a way for this to end that would be bearable for everyone involved…including the Herd. I am so sorry Limpopo had to be put down. I can only hope an autopsy will be performed to ascertain if she perhaps had a brain tumor or other abnormality that may have driven her to the actions she recently resorted to. May Israel and Limpopo Rest in Peace and may you, the Carers and the Staff find Strength, Rest and Peace within and as you go about reconstructing your lives.
I am devastated to read this news. I will hold all if you in my heart, especially Israel’s dear family. I can only imagine your and the herd’s collective grief. May all find their way through.
I am so sorry 😢 for the loss of Israel and Limpopo 🐘. I have donated to Israel’s family. This is a such a tragic loss for everyone. I do hope you all raise enough money to help Israel’s wife and children since they have lost Israel’s income. I am very curious how Tokwe 🐘 is handling not seeing Limpopo 🐘 anymore. Tokwe 🐘 is one of my Foster’s I am deeply concerned for her also. Sending my thoughts and prayers 🙏🙏 to everyone involved. Sending lots of love❤️❤️💔 from Florida.
I know you made the right move when it came to Limpopo 🐘😢😭💔❤️❤️❤️
The more I think about this abominable behavior I confess I become more and more perplexed by what occurred that day. I do not know what HERD has done with the body of Limpopo but I, for one, would like to have more information on all of this including whether or not you have decided to perform an autopsy on her…especially interesting might be her brain. It is certainly possible that she had a growth in there that pressed on an area which made her much more aggressive than she normally would be…or that before the goring, something happened that made her feel compromised or endangered in some way. Was any of this filmed? On one hand I’d be sick to my stomach if it had been but on the other, perhaps grateful as to what it may reveal.
To all –
I can’t imagine how heartbroken you are for Israel, his family and Limpopo. Sending you thoughts and prayers for your loss.
Sincerely,
Amy
Maybe some antidepressants or a mood stabilizer would have helped poor Limpopo. It is hard to express and write what I feel. Condolences on the loss of Israel to his family and colleagues and friends. But condolences also on the loss of Limpopo. You folks must be brave and strong to work with elephants; at times things are so very tragic. Sending prayers and blessings 🙏💔
I deeply sadden by the recent events for Isrealis family and the carers because of how much they loved their friend and the elephants. I am sad for thelxephants who miss Limpopo especially her mother.may healing come to all