Khanyisa
Khanyisa is a rare albino elephant calf that was found trapped in a snare with severe injuries, in January 2020. Her wounds indicated that she had been trying desperately to free herself for a few days. She had severe lacerations across her neck and cheeks and the top of her right ear was cut. She was alone, with no sign of her herd anywhere. From the beginning, Khanyisa settled in quickly at HERD, with Lammie, our loyal resident companion sheep.
About Khanyisa
Khanyisa is a rare albino elephant calf that was found trapped in a snare with severe injuries, in January 2020. Her wounds indicated that she had been trying desperately to free herself for a few days. She had severe lacerations across her neck and cheeks and the top of her right ear was cut. She was alone, with no sign of her herd anywhere. From the beginning, Khanyisa settled in quickly at HERD, with Lammie, our loyal resident companion sheep.
Feeding her was more complicated than usual due to her mouth injuries, but the team managed to find the correct angles to help her drink successfully. Our care team, together with wildlife veterinarian Dr. Peter Rogers, worked tirelessly for three months to ensure the calf’s wounds were treated and healed successfully.
Once her wounds had fully healed, the gradual integration with the herd began, starting with Jabulani, then Lundi and eventually the entire herd. Lundi was chosen as Khanyisa’s adoptive mother and took on the role beautifully.
Khanyisa has gone from strength to strength since her rescue. Her wounds have healed and her bonds with the herd have deepened naturally. She spends sunrise to sunset out in the wild of the reserve with the elephants, and returns to the homestead with the herd for the night. She will remain dependent on milk formula from our carers until she is weaned at approximately five years of age.
This special elephant gets her name from her unique appearance as an albino, as Khanyisa means “Light” or “Sunshine” in the local Shona language.
Khanyisa continues to be a ray of light to us and many of her loyal supporters around the world!
- Age when rescued: 4 months old
- Rescue date: 2020
- Reason orphaned: Trapped in a snare, with no sign of her herd anywhere
- Origin: South Africa
- Relations: Orphaned
How Adoption Works
By becoming a foster parent, you’re contributing to the care of your adopted elephant. You’re helping us to provide your adopted elephant with everything they need to be healthy and happy. This includes daily supplemental food like fresh bana grass and lucerne, as well as cleaning and maintenance of the elephant homestead. If your adopted elephant needs any medical support, your contribution will go towards providing them with medicine and veterinary care.
We offer different adoption levels. You can choose to adopt by making a once-off donation or by making recurring monthly donations.
You can adopt an elephant yourself, or you can gift an adoption to a loved one.
All Foster Parents Recieve:
Quarterly updates
on your adopted
elephant
Anatomy guide for your
adopted elephant
Access to a private
Facebook group for
foster parents
A personalised,
printable certificate
A digital birthday
card for foster parentAdoption Levels
Marula
Monthly amount: $10
Annual amount: $60
- Food for one day of each month
Bronze
Monthly amount: $25
Annual amount: $120
- Food for three to four days of each month, or
- One medication each year
Silver
Monthly amount: $50
Annual amount: $600
- Food for one week of each month, or
- Multiple medications each year, or
- One high-cost medication each year
Gold
Monthly amount: $100
Annual amount: $1200
- Food for two weeks of each month, or
- One medication each month, or
- Multiple high-cost medications each year, or
- One veterinary visit each year
Platinum
Monthly amount: $200
Annual amount: $2400
- Food for most days of each month, or
- Multiple medications each month, or
- One high-cost medication each month, or
- Multiple veterinary visits each year
Two Ways to Make a Difference
Other Herd Members You Can Adopt
Meet Bubi
Bubi
Born in approximately 1993, Bubi had a tough start to life in Zimbabwe. She lost her mother to...
Meet Jabulani
Jabulani
Born in 1997, Jabulani was rescued as a four-month-old little elephant, who was found stuck in the mud...
Meet Klaserie
Klaserie
Named after a river in South Africa that flows past Kapama, Klaserie was born on 23 February 2007,...
Meet Fishan
Fishan
Fishan, meaning ‘Something smaller’, was born in approximately 1989 and was rescued from Zimbabwe with the rest of...
