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Happy World Nature Conservation Day!!
Here at White Elephant, we are extremely proud of the partnerships we have built to achieve the goal we all believe in... and that is in the young youth of today. It is our responsibility to give them the experiences and knowledge of our environment, wildlife and cultures because no one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced. By giving them these opportunities and speaking out about the beauty and fragility of the natural world, we are teaching our youth to love and understand nature, which will inspire them to take action and protect it
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future” David Attenborough

During November 2023, the Research Camp and umKhaya Cottage were taken over by an international team of bird ringers. Over a 3-week period they caught and processed 470 birds, representing 80 different species – ranging in size from Blue Waxbills (weighing in at around 10g) to Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills (250g plus).

World elephant Day …… how desperate do our largest land mammals need this DAY!

Their peaceful existence is in the very fragile hands of humans. Some people might not want to hear this.. Due to loss of habitat and fragmentation, fences and management plans, blocking of historical migration routes and no financial value, their majestic presence has become a burden worldwide.

A TRIBUTE TO TWO GREAT CONSERVATION CHARACTERS AND A LAND ROVER – On the 23rd of July the Kingsley Holgate Foundation headed to the shores of Lake Jozini in Zululand for a rather special event: the ceremonial ‘planting’ of an old Land Rover Defender, which spent 30 years helping to conserve rhinos and elephants in Africa, and paying tribute to her owners, the extraordinary brother and sister team of Blythe Loutit and Digs Pascoe.

An amazing and extraordinary event took place on Monday 15 March 2021 when our Pongola Game Reserve elephants walked up to the top of the highest crest of the Ubombo Mountains spending all day in full view of the Myeni community at Mavela and Wildlife Spirit. On a clear day, from this elevated position, one can see the coastal dunes of Maputaland and the hills of Nongoma, the Heart of Zululand.

The pass they took to ascend to the mountain top is known amongst the local community as "isihlalo sendlovu" - the saddle of an elephant. This was the first time that they had walked as far as the top of the escarpment in full view of the neigbouring community.
We contemplated if this unusual event was a show of respect to the AmaZulu nation for the late King Goodwill Zwelinthini kaBhekuzulu, who passed away on Friday 13 March 2021.
"We will never know Mr Heinz, but there's a reason for this," Sakhile from Wildlife Spirit replied.