Let us recognize and support the noble, yet unsung efforts of a dedicated group of individuals who devote their lives to raising and caring for orphaned elephant calves. Let us celebrate the caregivers who become parents to the parentless little pachyderms 🙏 

In the vast grasslands and woodlands of Southern Africa, selfless caregivers play a vital role in elephant conservation. Their tireless efforts ensure the survival and well-being of vulnerable young elephants, ultimately securing a future for elephants and contributing to the preservation of these majestic creatures. As we continue to face the threats of habitat loss, poaching, and wildlife trafficking, the work of these caregivers becomes increasingly vital. 

A baby elephant orphaned or abandoned in the wild simply cannot survive. The mother-calf bond is just too fundamental to the well-being of elephant calves, even post-weaning and into young adulthood.

To successfully raise elephant calves in an orphanage setting, these ‘surrogate parents’ care for their charges around the clock and sleep with them in their enclosures. These caregivers are typically employed by wildlife sanctuaries, rehabilitation centers, or conservation organizations. Elephant carers come from diverse backgrounds, united by their passion for elephant welfare and conservation. Many have extensive experience in animal care, while others have learned through hands-on training and mentorship programs.

Not only do the orphaned elephants need milk and constant care from their mother, they also need the companionship from other members of the herd to maintain their emotional well-being and learn the ways of being an elephant. Therefore these awesome baby elephant caregivers are required to fulfill the roles and duties of the ‘mama’ elephant and the herd. 

As such, they are required to feed the orphans a specialized milk formula every 2-3 hours, 24/7/365. Gradually, they are introduced to the grasses and other vegetation on which they will one day rely. Even at the age of four, an elephant may not yet be fully weaned and still be taking at least some milk.

Providing around-the-clock care is imperative as orphaned elephant calves rely on their human caregivers for everything. For this reason, it is common practice for orphaned baby elephant handlers to work as a group among the elephants to keep the babies from getting too attached to a single person. Too close of a bond with one handler can be a problem if that person has to go away—even for just a few days. Depression and grief can set in quickly, negatively affecting the orphan’s health.

Elephants are communal animals. Females live their entire lives (60-70 years) within a “family” herd. The bull elephants stay with the herd anywhere from 10-19 years before they move on to a more solo lifestyle. As elephants are highly social animals, the elephant orphan’s human foster parents must provide emotional support and psychological comfort to their adopted orphans. Carers therefore need to encourage socialization and natural behavior among their young charges. As caregivers invest time, love, and energy into raising these orphans, a deep bond forms between them. This connection is essential for the calf's emotional and psychological development. 

The handlers need to be constantly vigilant of any potential health issues, so they are trained to carefully monitor the calves’ health and to respond quickly to getting the babies the medical interventions they might require.

Caregivers often report feeling a strong sense of ‘parental’ pride, joy and responsibility as they watch their charges grow and thrive. Although this journey is not without challenges, the rewards are immense. As carers see an orphaned calf grow into a strong, confident young elephant, and know what a crucial role they have played in its survival, they realize and relish what has been a truly fulfilling experience.

Caregivers may actually feel a sense of heartbreak when ‘their’ calves eventually leave them to be reintroduced into the wild.

At around five years of age, when showing signs of independence, the orphans are moved into a ‘soft release’ area as a small herd. For the next five years they learn to explore, forage and play together without the constant companionship of their human family. In another five years, they will be released as a herd into the wild.

While it's not entirely accurate to say that “elephants never forget”, elephants do possess remarkable memory abilities and can remember their family members, even after many years of separation. Elephants can recognize and respond to specific humans, even after long periods without interacting with humans. Their exceptional memory is likely linked to their complex social structures and play a vital role in their survival and social behaviors. The orphans will probably ‘always’ remember their ‘human family’, even after they’ve left the orphanage and become wild herds. 

These caregivers of orphaned elephant calves are truly remarkable and magnificent humans, but often remain the unsung heroes of elephant conservation. So the Guardian Angel Wildlife and Marine Trust wishes to acknowledge their efforts and to give them all due accolades for their dedication, compassion and expertise in ensuring that the next generation of elephants thrive.

Sources:

1.   https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-022-03574-8

1.   https://empowersafrica.org/all-about-elephants/