Their chances of survival seemed slim after the traumatic start of their lives. But the orphaned baby elephants thrived and grew strong thanks to their rescuer’s incredible love, care and attention.
So when the day came for Roxy Danckwerts to say goodbye to Bumi, Moyo and five others she has rehabilitated and raised on her elephant farm, it was a bittersweet moment.
There were poignant last hugs and pats on the trunk as she held back tears before they left for their new home 700 miles away.
At the same time, she knew this meant the elephants were finally one step closer to her dream of seeing them return to a life in the wild.
Miss Danckwerts accompanied them every inch as they were transported from the nursery of her charity Wild Is Life (WIL) in Harare, Zimbabwe, to a reserve on the western border of the South African country.
Moyo, the first elephant rescued by Roxy Danckwerts when she was only two weeks old
Miss Danckwerts with Bumi before being hoisted onto a truck ready for the long journey to the Panda Masui Forest
It is a sanctuary where they can learn to live independently, integrate with and eventually join established feral herds that pass through the area.
But as these stunning photos show, getting seven elephants – with a total weight of ten tons – required a truly gigantic operation.
They first had to be sedated with tranquilizer darts, then specialist teams checked their breathing and heart rate before fitting them with straps so they could be hoisted up by their feet and lifted upside down – according to experts, this is the simplest, easiest and quickest way – in a low loader with a crane.
They were then all trucked to a ‘wake box’ where they were unsedated and stood up, before being led into cages in the 30-ton truck that took them on the 17-hour journey to the Panda Masuie Forest Reserve, which is supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
Bumi, a three-year-old male, was rescued in 2019 when he was one month old. He had somehow gotten stuck in the rocks and suffered a severe sunburn in the scorching heat. The Mail reported on his recovery at the time.
Bumi is lifted onto a truck ready to go to the Panda Masui forest where he will roam free
Moyo is loaded onto a truck, ready to go to the forest, where she will also be free to roam
After arriving at his new home on the 85,000-acre reserve, Bumi is pictured here enjoying a refreshing glass of water, flanked by Unity, who arrived at the nursery in 2017 after her mother stopped producing milk due to a drought, and Sienna, rescued last year after being seen alone at 15 months old and suffering from malnutrition.
Moyo, a female now nine years old, was the first elephant rescued by WIL. She was days old and only knee high when she was found in the water during heavy rain in 2014. It was suspected that she had been washed away while trying to cross a river.
It is not known what happened to the mothers of the orphans. Elephant calves can only end up as a result of poaching, separation from herds or attacks by predators, as well as life-threatening accidents, IFAW says.
All elephants that come to her nursery have a special place in Miss Danckwerts’ heart.
But she and Moyo formed a very special bond.
Moyo came to think of her as her mother – and also grew up to be a comfort to the other orphans who came to the nursery after her, taking them under her trunk and helping them recover from their own traumas.
Miss Danckwerts, 56, hopes the closeness to her former accusers will help them settle into their new home and adjust to life away from her and her team.
Bumi, center, is pictured with two other elephants after the 22-hour journey across Zimbabwe to their new home near Victoria Falls
Miss Danckwerts says goodbye to Moyo, the first elephant she rescued in her nature reserve
As they headed for the reservation, she said, “It really is a bittersweet moment. I am so glad they are returning to a normal life in the wild.
“But I will miss them all. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. They are round. I am proud, happy and sad.’
Miss Danckwerts has rescued dozens of baby elephants since setting up 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. Miss Danckwerts’ dedicated work now continues as more orphans arrive at her nursery.
No doubt there will be many more magical moments that neither they — nor, of course, the elephants — will ever forget.
Visit in support of Wild Is Life-Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery and IFAW wildislife.org And ifaw.org.