Catch Up With Elephant Bulls, Mambo and Zindoga

Join Owen and Adine for an update on two teenage bulls in the herd, Mambo and Zindoga.

Born two years apart, the bulls are coming to an age where they will form a closer bond and learn from the dominant bulls in the herd. As they mature, they are developing key skills and behaviours to see them through life.

Mambo’s Story

Mambo is an energetic and mischievous young elephant bull.  Mambo, meaning ‘King’ or ‘Chief’ in the Shona language, was in August 2009, the fourth baby born to the herd, to mother, Lundi.

He is growing into a sturdy bull, with a rounded forehead and tusks that point outwards. He has a tear in his right ear, which resembles the torn ear that his mother, Lundi is well recognised for.

Mambo is an exciting mix of mayhem, enthusiasm and sweetness. One minute he’s abandoning Khanyisa in her moment of need and the next, he’s happily foraging beside her, just him and his little sister. One minute he’s happily splashing with his herd in the dam or sparring with the other elephants, and the next he’s run off and made us call in the helicopters to find him. He has certainly created a lot of trouble over the years, from chasing Bubi to bashing down the poles in the homestead as he challenged Tokwe. But in between the excitement (read: trouble), Mambo manages to calm down and let his herd and carers worry a little less. He has good role models helping to keep him in line, such as mother Lundi, female Setombe, and bulls Somopane and Sebakwe. Although he’s not afraid to try and challenge them from time to time.

Zindoga’s Story

Zindoga is an assertive and well-respected young member of the herd. Born in October 2007, Zindoga was an unexpected addition to the herd. Bubi, his mother, gave no sign of being pregnant, nor any signs of approaching labour. And yet, overnight, she gave birth to a young elephant calf in the homestead.

Zindoga is a handsome young elephant, with thick short tusks and a medium-sized body. He has quite a competitive streak, and can often be seen wrestling with Mambo, or even the older elephants such as Jabulani – however, he remains respectful at all times and does not overstep his boundaries. This is also his way of enhancing his skills as a young male wanting to show more dominance in the herd. Already he has gained respect from the elephants due to his consistent yet respectful dominance of the youngsters and some of the adult females.

Zindoga spends most of his time with Mambo and Somopane.