Gondwana Game Reserve in the Garden Route embarked on a project on March 5, together with the Bloemfontein Zoo and Conservation Global, to relocate Thandora, a 27-year-old elephant, from captivity to the wild.
Thandora has been in captivity for 23 years. Her elephant companion at the zoo recently died, and it was decided that she needed a more suitable home where she could form part of a herd.
“Gondwana Game Reserve was sought out for this relocation as it provides a suitable herd and environment for Thandora as well as the facilities to support her transition,” said a statement by the reserve.
It said the biggest challenge was preparing Thandora for her new free-roaming life. “Due to her captive environment she has low muscle-tone and poor fitness, which could be potentially life-threatening if she is released directly on to the 11 000-hectare reserve. The Gondwana elephant herd can cover up to 15 kilometres in a day, which Thandora needs to be physically prepared for.”
She will therefore be placed into a rehabilitation programme for her diet and exercise. “While in the holding boma, her diet will be adapted from captive-based food, such as fruits, vegetables, bread and lucern, to natural forage. She will take part in a fitness programme where she will be walked daily within the holding boma, building up to a target of 10 kilometres a day. We anticipate this to take six to eight weeks, or as long as is necessary.”
The programme will be closely monitored by Conservation Global’s research department, which will look at behavioural and physical elements. The results are hoped to be published and used for future elephant relocations from captivity.
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