One of our goals for 2020 was to introduce a wild herd to the reserve we had reintegrated one of the previously captive herds onto. This introduction aimed to provide a more natural system for the reintegrated group by giving them another herd to have social interactions with- something critically important for the wellbeing of elephants as a whole. In 2019 we became aware of a reserve that was desperately looking to decrease its elephant population numbers or it would ultimately consider using culling as a form of bringing its elephant numbers down. This is not an outcome anyone would hope for and we were determined to at least save one herd from this population. In spite of 2020 odds, and in partnership with some incredible organisations, we were able to save, collar and translocate a herd from this reserve to join our rewilded herd on their much larger reserve.

A release that defied belief.

On the 19th September at 1:30am, a large truck containing 6 elephants arrived at a reserve to drop off some special cargo. After a 14-hour drive, we all eagerly anticipated the approaching moment of release for this herd. When offloading elephants into a new area, one never knows what to expect for those first few hours. From getting them to walk out of the truck itself, to worrying about what their movements will be as they realise they are somewhere different, each herd’s reactions will be unique.

In this case, we need not have been worried. We opened the truck doors & within a few minutes the first elephants tentatively took their first steps in their new home. After a moment of smelling their new surroundings while still on the offloading ramp, they turned as one & started walking away from us & into the quiet darkness. After a few minutes we started hearing their gentle rumbles resonating through the night. Rumbles which we think alerted the resident elephant herd to their presence.

Both this new herd & the resident herd were collared, enabling us to get remote updates of their locations. We watched in amazement as these two herd’s GPS coordinates approached each other. Not only did the resident herd move towards & meet the new herd, they then led them to water.

We were stunned – this new herd would have been extremely thirsty after a full day of travels & here they were being escorted to water by the resident elephant herd who had only just met them. It certainly helped us all rest that much better knowing these elephants were in good company.

These remarkable animals never cease to amaze.

This would not have been possible without Fondation Franz Webber eagerly jumping on board to support this move just in the nick of time. Thanks also to HSI-Africa and Global Supplies we were simultaneously able to collar the herds for monitoring purposes and for the implementation of the immuno-contraceptive program which will be used to humanely control the growth of this population. This initiative and collaboration was certainly a highpoint in the year and we couldn’t be more grateful for such valued partners.