HERD Elephant Orphanage

Save the Elephant Day 💛🐘 As South Africa’s first and only dedicated elephant orphanage with a homestead for orphans integrated into a herd, our purpose is to care for every orphaned elephant that is brought into our care at HERD and help them rehabilitate and integrate into a stable and nurturing elephant herd. A herd that will provide them with the move and emotional security they need to survive, and to give them a second chance at a life with their own species. Elephants are highly intelligent and an emotional species, with complex social bonds. The unusual structure of our rescued herd that are largely orphans themselves presents a unique solution for orphaned elephants in South Africa that need a home to ensure their holistic wellbeing and survival. Being in the company of adults, sub adults and juvenile elephants during their developmental stages is highly beneficial for baby elephants. Phabeni is the latest orphan to benefit from this as he has joined the herd during the day from sunrise to set, in the wilderness. Thank you for helping us to give elephant orphans in need a herd of their own. Thank you for helping us to save elephants. #savetheelephantday #elephant #elephants #herd #elephantherd

You’ve seen a pink Khanyisa, but have you ever seen a red Khanyisa? 🐘 Khanyisa and Timisa are having the time of their lives rolling around and climbing over each other, and getting covered in red soil in the process. You can see why elephants in different regions appear to have different skin colours. They’re really just covered in different types of soil! Elephants are almost always covered in mud and soil, so if they live in an area with red soil, they will look red, and if they live in an area with white soil, they will look white. But underneath it all, they all have the same skin colour. Except, of course, if they’re albinos like Khanyisa – then they have pink skin under all that mud and soil.

Active growing bulls need lots of fuel! Carer Last is on hand with milk bottles for Phabeni as he is joined by the herd for his bush drink. New surrogate mother, Setombe is right beside him and enjoying her own snack of a huge tree branch. Food always tastes better when shared in company with loved ones 🐘💚 #everyelephantneedsaherd

Phabeni tries to rest on the ground of the sand mounds while the elephants surround him, but Klaserie and Setombe won’t let him. Concerned with his safety, they try to get him back up. Klaserie sweetly puts her trunk into her mother’s mouth — perhaps checking in with her to read her thoughts of the situation. Elephants communicate in this tactile while, conversing through the scents they share and detect through the Jacobson organ at the roof of their palate in the mouth. Khanyisa, Limpopo and Kumbura also stay close to the mobile little bull as he explores the joys of sand bathing. #elephant #elephants #southafrica #babyelephants #elephantorphanage

Setombe and Khanyisa are both close by as Phabeni enjoys a milkshake from Herman 😀

Bush adventures with baby Phabeni and his gigantic branch! 🌿 With allomother Kumbura close behind, big sister Klaserie to the side and momma Setombe watching from the back 🐘 We knew Phabeni had a quirky personality, but since joining the herd on daily walks in the bush his bubbly personality is shining through! He loves exploring the reserve with the herd and the carers, and although he plays with his food, he is also discovering new tastes, smells and things to do. He loves spending time with big sisters Khanyisa and Kumbura and enjoys a cooling swim in the waterhole. We cannot wait to see what adventures little Phabeni has with the herd! 💚 #everyelephantneedsaherd #herdsouthafrica #ourphabeni #phabeniherd #elephantorphanage #elephantconservation #elephants #babyelephants

Good morning from Phabeni and the herd! ☀️ There’s no sharing breakfast with Mom today. As much as Setombe tries to steal a slurp… 🍼

A new day for orphan bull Phabeni as he walks with his adopted elephant family 💚🐘🙏🏽 These are the moments that make us so proud of the work we do! #babyelephants #elephant #southafrica #elephants #elephantorphanage #babyanimals #elephantsanctuary

Trunk greetings with Jabulani, Reply and Tichaona 💚 Did you know that carers gently blow into their trunks so the elephants can identify them by scent, as they do with members of the elephant herd 🐘 #everyelephantneedsaherd #herdelephants #herdsouthafrica #elephantherd #elephants

Thank you for your support for the elephants! 🐘 This year’s Little By Little campaign with GlobalGiving was very successful in helping to raise funds for Phabeni, Khanyisa and the herd! We are incredibly thankful to you all for donating to this matching campaign and to GlobalGiving for this opportunity to have our donors’ support go even further. We managed to bring in a total of $44 434 — that’s R837 528 with 738 Donors for all of our campaigns on GlobaGiving. This includes Phabeni, Khanyisa, Fishan and the whole herd’s fundraisers — https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/97925/hoedspruit-elephant-rehabilitation-and-development/ Supporting the elephants and raising new orphans is expensive work and each cent donated helps our NPO and PBO to do the vital work we do each day on the ground. Thank you for making this mission possible. Every elephant needs a herd. And through your help, we are making this a reality for the orphans in our care. ☀️

Peaceful mornings? Not if Khanyisa’s around 🐘 Khanyisa is in a silly mood this morning, running and trumpeting for no particular reason. Or perhaps she’s just excited that Phabeni is out with the herd! 🎥 Filmed by elephant carer Owen #everyelephantneedsaherd #elephantlove #elephantorphanage #elephant #elephants #elephantsoftiktok #babyelephant #babyelephants #africa #southafrica

Muddy Mamas 🐘💖 Lundi shows off a beautifully-coated exterior post-mud shower, during a tree rub. Nature is full of stimulation and satisfaction for every one of the elephants’ senses. #everyelephantneedsaherd #herdelephants #elephant #elephants #lundi #southafrica #elephantorphanage

Bush bottles for baby Phabeni, compliments of carer Joshua 💚 #everyelephantneedsaherd #elephant #babyelephants #elephants #elephantorphanage #phabeni #herdelephantorphanage

Baby on the run! Phabeni runs to meet up with the herd 🐘❤️‍🩹 #elephant #everyelephantneedsaherd #babyelephants #elephantorphanage #phabeni #southafrica #babyanimals

On chilly days, we all need an extra layer or two. Phabeni is wrapped up in one of our favourite baby elephant blankets, one that was donated by a cat lover and found a new use and home with Khanyisa, before being passed on to Phabeni. What a tale these threads could tell… 🧶 #herdelephants #herdelephantorphanage #herdsouthafrica #elephant #elephants #babyelephants #phabeni #ourphabeni

Nandi, Lammie, and Spotty rightfully shine on National Pet Day 💚 Not only for the love and companionship they provide to their human herd, but for the dedicated care, patience and affection they give baby Phabeni 🐘 Don't forget to give your pet a big hug today if you are fortunate enough to have one. 🐶 🐈 #everyelephantneedsaherd #elephantorphanage #herdelephants #elephants #babyelephant #nationalpetday

Phabeni gets a pampering sand bath from carer Stavros - pure elephant joy! 🐘💚 #everyelephantneedsaherd #herdelephants #herdsouthafrica #elephants #elephantorphanage #babyelephants

Phabeni enjoys a drink of water behind mama Setombe on a visit to the waterhole 💦💚 Estimated to have been four months old when he was rescued in November, Phabeni is around eight months old now. And still a tiny little figure when seen beside his new family. He is navigating all the new paths of the wild so well, and seems perfectly happy ambling through water. Where Setombe goes, he follows. #everyelephantneedsaherd #elephant #babyelephants #southafrica #elephants #elephantorphanage #babyanimals #phabeni #herdtrust

Drink and Run 🏃 How impossibly small the milk bottles look next to Khanyisa these days! Meisiekind receives fewer milk bottles during the day as she is being weaned but she sure makes each one count and devours them still with relish. #everyelephantneedsaherd

Thanks to you, we are able to keep Meisiekind growing big and strong as she approaches her 5th birthday in September! She may receive fewer bottles in the day as we approach this next milestone, but she still loves each and every drop of milk and benefits from the extra nutrition and energy. She doesn’t even try and steal Phabeni’s bottles, knowing perhaps that her own are always on the way. 🐘🍼 #raisingkhanyisa #khanyisabraveheart #herdsouthafrica #everyelephantneedsaherd #everyelephantmatters #khanyisa #southafrica #elephants #babyelephants #albino