WILDLIFE RESCUE RELEASE

CHAMILANDUSTEPSBACKINTOTHEWILDWHERESHEBELONGS

After spending 2½ years returning to the boma every evening with her calf Mutaanzi, Chamilandu, the Release Herd Matriarch has finally returned to the wild Just shortly after her satellite collar had been replaced, she stopped coming back to the boma and instead joined released orphan Tafika to roam throughout the night Mutaanzi was still small and vulnerable to predators, however with Tafika’s support Chamilandu has been able to keep him safe Shewaslikelymotivatedtomoveontoensureshehadagreaterrangeoffood sources and we noticed an increase in condition with her newfound freedom Happily, it was only a few months later that Mosi and Rufunsa also decided to join her and the five elephants have remained close to one another ever since, visiting the other orphans on occasion during their daily walks in Kafue NationalPark

The Release camp has stood the test of time and supported elephant rehabilitation operations for over 14 years However, its temporary structures were starting to crumble and with a dramatic flood in January there was desperate need for renovations With thanks to the incredible support of our special partners, Olsen Animal Trust, Friends of the Elephants, Elephant Cooperation and ProWildlife, these developments began in the second half of the year starting with new accommodation for the team as the priority build

When their overnight boma flooded at the start of the year the Release Herd were dramatically evacuated as they swam to a new boma that was under construction on the other side of the Nkala River on higher ground The new boma, funded with huge thanks to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, enablesseasonalpaddockrotationtorestthelandandvegetation,andonthis occasionprovidedanessentialrespitefromthedangerouslyhighwaters