Elephant Orphanage Project

Background

The Elephant Orphanage Project was established in Zambia in southern Kafue National Park (KNP) 2007 with the mission to rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned elephants back into the wild. The EOP is the only programme of its kind in Zambia and it is the 15^th year of Colchester Zoological Society providing this project with vital support.

The programme follows a four-stage process:

• Rescue – Initial capture from wild scenario whereby elephant calves have become orphaned (usually health is compromised, and the calf is under great stress)
• Rehabilitate – Orphans raised with a high level of care at the Elephant Nursery from point of rescue until weaning age (approx. 3 years)
• Release – Orphans >3 years old are transferred to Kafue Release Facility to be weaned from milk and supplementary feeding; gradually reducing dependency on human support over the years until they are ready (emotionally, physically, socially) to be reintegrated with wild elephants and live back in the wild
• Research – Data collected on all elements of orphaned elephant rescue, rehabilitation and release to further understanding of all processes and ensure systems are constantly reviewed to ensure the best possible results for collaboration and information sharing across networks.

The Elephant Orphanage Project has developed two facilities to provide the specific care requirements for the elephant orphans it receives. EOP offers a mobile rescue unit, which aims to respond to orphan alerts within 12 hours of contact and transport the calves to the EOP Lilayi Elephant Nursery (LEN) where these fragile elephants are cared for around the clock. A team of locally employed, highly trained keepers care for them and watch over them constantly – whether out during their daily walks or sitting close by their stables at night. Together with their new ‘siblings’ and keepers, these young elephants learn to overcome the tragic loss of their natal family, as they browse, play and bath together within a natural environment. As soon as the calves can be weaned from milk, they are moved to the Kafue National Park to join other older orphaned elephants at EOP Kafue Release Facility (KRF) where they become more independent of human support and spend most of their time browsing freely in the National Park.

The facility backs onto the ancient Ngoma Teak Forest where there is a significant local elephant population, which maximises the opportunity for the orphans to eventually reintegrate with fellow elephants back in the wild. Over time, the orphans become more independent of the facility and younger herd and will start to live further away, demonstrating their interest and ability to live back in the wild where they belong.

The need for the Elephant Orphanage Project has been consistent over the years with poaching as a persistent challenge and an ever-increasing loss of elephants due to conflicts occurring as human expansion and farming is increasingly prevalent nearer to Parklands and often blocking elephant migration routes. As the EOP herd increases in numbers, support from organisations such as Colchester Zoological Society is vital in helping to raise much needed awareness of the plight of wildlife species as a result of poaching, provide financial support to critical projects and ensure the long-term survival of the recovering elephant herds and other wildlife species in the Park.

“My interest in saving animals started with a one month old orphan elephant called Zambezi, I had to look after him 24/7 and it was the best times I’ve ever had in my life”.  Aaron Gumbo, Elephant Keeper.

Achievements and Objectives

At the end of 2023, a total of 28 orphans were under the Elephant Orphanage Project’s care or monitoring, spanning the six stages of release: 6 elephants in Stage 1 in rehabilitation at the Lilayi Elephant Nursery; 10 elephants in Stage 3 at the Kafue Release Facility in the protective boma overnight; 6 elephants at Stage 5 spending nights outside the boma and spending less than 50% of their time with the orphan herd and 6 elephants living full time in the wild.

The ultimate aim is to continue to facilitate the release of the elephants back into the wild. Post-release they will continue to be studied and observed to determine their ability to integrate within wild elephant society. 

2025 Update:
Our £10,000 donation will provide operational expenses to cover elephant food, veterinary supplies, kit and equipment and to help sponsor a keeper, providing salary, rations, medical support and training. EOP currently employs a team of 23 Elephant Keepers who care for 17 elephant orphans around-the-clock; Aaron, our sponsored keeper has been an elephant keeper since 2012.