Tafika finds comfort close to home

After Tafika’s exciting excursion away from the herd last month, it seems he’s chosen the quieter life this month. Happy in the company of the herd, Tafika hasn’t ventured off into the wild depths of Kafue National Park for several weeks now.

While his fellow release-phase orphans, Chamilandu and Batoka, explore their surroundings during the evenings, Tafika stays within the protective boma with his younger surrogate siblings. A fairly anxious elephant, Tafika still needs to find the confidence to join Chamilandu and Batoka once again.

His nervous nature was evident recently when a vehicle passed by during the herd’s morning bush walk – Tafika’s reaction was to trumpet loudly in disapproval of the vehicle’s presence, while the rest of the orphans continued to calmly graze!

He’s also displayed the mischievous side to his personality while in the boma at lunchtimes – on several occasions, he’s been caught fiddling with the fastening on the gate that separates the boma and the keepers’ area. The keepers called out to him in the hope he would stop, but he continued for a while before finding another activity to keep him amused!

This is an exciting time in Tafika’s life, and he is taking small but promising steps towards the release phase of his rehabilitation.

We look forward to sharing more stories about Tafika’s exploits with you in the year ahead! If you’re interested in learning more about this iconic species or the other animals that we work hard to protect please visit our website 

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