Paris won for the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery (ZEN). The orphan elephant nursery in Harare has just completed its third operation to return orphaned elephants rescued from traumatic circumstances to the wild.
This latest operation took place on 1 June 2023, and involved seven elephant calves aged between three and thirteen. They were transferred from the capital Harare to a release reserve near Victoria Falls on Zimbabwe’s western border, a journey of 1100 kilometres. Unfortunately, the process did not go without an accident. Moyo, a female elephant and the first calf rescued by ZEN more than nine years ago, was injured en route and is currently undergoing veterinary treatment.
This transfer is the second stage in a rehabilitation process that is essential if the elephants are to be reintroduced into a natural habitat, where they can eventually rejoin wild herds. The Panda Masuie reserve, where the baby elephants were transferred, is a protected area of over 34,000 hectares. It is part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (TCA), which is presented as a haven of peace for elephants.
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The ZEN was set up in 2012 by the animal protection organisation Wild is Life (WIL), with the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The project is the only elephant rescue, rehabilitation and release programme in Zimbabwe. It is part of Ifaw’s “Give Space” initiative, which helps to secure habitats and maintain connectivity for elephants and other wildlife.
Boris Ngounou