In the harsh landscapes of Zimbabwe’s savannah, two orphaned baby elephants, Kadiki and Bumi, hung in the balance.
Kadiki, just a day old, suffered from painful claw wounds inflicted by a lion, while Bumi, a mere-month-old, endured severe sunburn after getting trapped among rocky terrain.
Their luck changed when Roxy Danckwerts, a seasoned animal rescuer and founder of Wild Is Life charity and the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery (ZEN), stepped in to help.
Danckwerts provided sanctuary for Kadiki and Bumi, offering them a haven at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery, the sole refuge in the country dedicated to young elephants in need.
Assisted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a sanctuary near Harare became a nurturing environment for the young calves. Despite their initial hardships, Kadiki and Bumi made remarkable recoveries.
Kadiki, fondly called ‘the little one’ in the local Shona dialect, underwent a tail amputation surgery and received specialized care for her trunk.
Despite her tender age of ten days, she displayed remarkable resilience, even while receiving medical treatment.
Bumi also transformed remarkably, embracing a playful nature and enjoying activities like tire games.
Their maternal backgrounds remain unknown, a common plight for orphaned elephants facing hazards such as drought, poaching, or encounters with predators.
Through a pioneering collaboration between Wild Is Life-ZEN and IFAW, Zimbabwe witnesses a beacon of hope for these rescued elephants.
This partnership allows the elephants to roam safely among herds in a vast forest reserve, shielded from threats like poaching.
As the original sanctuary herd imparts vital survival skills, nine elephants have begun their journey towards rewilding.
A significant conservation effort has relocated a herd to the Panda-Masuie forest reserve near Victoria Falls, preserving a once-hunted territory.
Roxy Danckwerts, with a history of rescuing over 20 elephants, emphasizes the importance of collaboration in sustainable conservation. She hopes Moyo, the first elephant she saved, will guide Kadiki and Bumi.
The goal is for these young elephants to spend a maximum of two years at the sanctuary before transitioning to Panda-Masuie, where they’ll integrate into wild herds.
Jimmiel Mandima from IFAW underscores the profound bonds between humans and animals, highlighting the progress in rehabilitating traumatized elephants.
Beyond aiding the rescued elephants, the well-protected corridor at Panda-Masuie serves as a barrier to poaching routes, ensuring the safety of these majestic creatures and other species in the area.
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