Their chances of survival seemed grim after the traumatic start they had in life. However, thanks to the remarkable love, care, and attention from their rescuer, the orphaned baby elephants not only thrived but also grew up strong. So, when Roxy Danckwerts had to bid farewell to Bumi, Moyo, and the other five elephants she had rehabilitated and raised at her elephant nursery, it was a bittersweet moment. There were meaningful final cuddles and gentle pats on their trunks as she fought back tears before they embarked on a 700-mile journey to their new home.
Roxy Danckwerts’ ultimate dream was to see these elephants return to a life in the wild, and with their relocation, they were one step closer to that dream. She accompanied them every step of the way as they were transported from her charity, Wild Is Life (WIL), in Harare, Zimbabwe, to a reserve on the country’s western border. The reserve would provide them with a safe haven to learn to live independently, integrate with established wild herds, and eventually join them in migrating through the area.
The endeavor to transport seven elephants, weighing a total of ten tons, was a monumental operation, as depicted in these breathtaking photographs. First, the elephants had to be sedated with tranquilizer darts, and specialist teams closely monitored their breathing and heart rates. Then, they were securely lifted by their feet with the help of a crane, hanging upside down, and placed onto a flatbed truck using straps, deemed by experts as the simplest, easiest, and quickest method. Once on the truck, they were driven to a “wake-up box” where their sedation was reversed, allowing them to stand up, before being ushered into cages inside a 30-ton lorry that would take them on their 17-hour journey to the Panda Masuie Forest Reserve, supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
One of the elephants, Bumi, a three-year-old male, was rescued when he was just a month old in 2019. He had gotten stuck among rocks and suffered severe sunburn in the scorching heat. Moyo, a now nine-year-old female, was the first elephant rescued by WIL. She was found stranded in water as a days-old calf during heavy rains in 2014, suspected to have been washed away while attempting to cross a river. The fate of their mothers remains unknown, as elephant calves can become separated from herds due to poaching, predator attacks, accidents, or other reasons, according to the IFAW.
After their arrival at the 85,000-acre reserve, Bumi was captured in a photo enjoying a refreshing drink of water, accompanied by Unity and Sienna, both of whom had their own stories of rescue and recovery. Unity arrived at the nursery in 2017 after her mother stopped producing milk due to a drought, and Sienna was rescued last year at the age of 15 months when she was found alone and suffering from malnutrition.
All of the elephants that come to Roxy Danckwerts’ nursery hold a special place in her heart. However, her bond with Moyo is particularly exceptional. Moyo began to see her as her mother and became a source of comfort for the other orphans, helping them recover from their own traumas. Miss Danckwerts, now bidding farewell to Moyo and the other elephants, hopes that their close relationships will aid in their transition to their new home and adaptation to a life away from her and her team.
As they embarked on their journey to the reserve, Miss Danckwerts expressed mixed emotions, saying, “It’s a really bittersweet moment. I’m so glad they’re returning to a proper life in the wild. But I’ll miss them all. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. They’ve come full circle. I’m proud, happy, and sad.”
Roxy Danckwerts has rescued numerous baby elephants since she established her nursery, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe. This is the third group to be transported by IFAW and WIL to the release facility, and Miss Danckwerts’ dedicated work will continue as more orphans arrive at her nursery. Undoubtedly, there will be many more enchanting moments to come that neither she nor the elephants will ever forget.
To support the Wild Is Life-Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery and IFAW, please visit wildislife.org and ifaw.org.
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