Phabeni, the orphan elephant calf, has successfully joined his new family at HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development) Trust, South Africa’s first elephant orphanage.
Adine Roode, Founder of HERD, shared Phabeni’s integration story, calling him a “little champion”.
“We started little elephant bull Phabeni’s integration phase by getting him used to some of the elephants in the rescued herd, first through the fence at the bottom of the garden and then trunk-to-trunk. The fence surrounding the orphanage protects the orphans and keeps out unwanted visitors, but it also helps with the introductions, as the elephants on either side are able to get to know one another, and their unfamiliar smells and sounds, in a less intimidating setting.
“Older bull, Jabulani, also once an orphan himself, spent many mornings with Phabeni during the months of December and January, standing at the fence daily for about an hour or so. Jabulani is as calm as a millipede, which…
