Thank you for supporting the elephants

And the wonder of "sympathetic lactation!"

Annabel and baby Summer

I am delighted to bring you an update from Roxy Danckwerts, Founder of Wild is Life/Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery - an extraordinary organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and re-wilds orphaned elephants in my homeland of Zimbabwe.

Thanks to your subscription to this newsletter, we collectively provide much needed ongoing funds to Roxy and her team in support of their compassion-based work.

As you may recall, the Wild is Life team re-wilded a herd of orphaned elephants last year, taking on the enormous task of moving them 870 kms (540 miles) by road from Harare to Panada Masuie near Victoria Falls. At Panda Masuie, the elies are free to leave and return to a boma (corral) whenever they wish. Some strike out into the bush very soon, integrating with wild elephant herds. Some like to return most evenings to a place where they will be fed and feel safe.

Others disappear for days or weeks but come back for visits. One of these, Annabel, turned out to have met a wild bull in the bush, to whom she fell pregnant. It was a real privilege for the Wild is Life team when she chose to give birth to this first calf of the next generation, at the Panda Masuie centre.

For more about this, and the extraordinary events that follow, I’m handing you over to Roxy who emailed me about this yesterday.

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From Roxy:

Baby Summer really has been the most extraordinary addition to the Panda Masuie Family! She has bought such a lot of joy to everyone and we have learned a huge amount from her too. January, the head Nursery Carer, refuses to come back and be at the Wild is Life Nursery in Harare … he just wants to be with Summer at Panda Masuie! He is besotted with her!

January and Summer

When Summer was unexpectedly born, in the early hours of a Sunday morning, the Carers were astounded to see that another elephant in the herd, Nora, had undertaken the role of midwife. She was digging up soil for Annabel, comforting her, keeping the inquisitive youngsters out of the way and generally keeping things on the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, there was a power cut, so the Carers only had their cell phone torches to witness what was going on. Luckily, they knew not to interfere and let the females get on with their roles.

Since the birth, Nora has taken her Auntie duties extremely seriously. Annabel is a rather independent Mum, sometimes forgetting she has a calf and racing back in a flat panic to find Summer. However, Nora is constantly on the alert with the little one and very rarely leaves her side. She also has another of the elies, Marsie, to help with Nanny duties. Nora keeps a firm eye on play (well she is partially blind, so perhaps that is the wrong terminology) but she is constantly aware of where Summer is and what she is doing. She will not hesitate to discipline another elephant if they get too rough.

Summer will often sleep at night in the boma, firmly tucked inside Nora's legs. The Carers now know, that when checking on the elies during the night, and Summer cannot be seen, be sure to look next to Nora! There Summer will be, fast asleep, wound around Nora’s outstretched legs!

Summer suckling from Auntie Nora

Summer will often suckle Marsie, Sally and others for comfort. She will suck their ears generally but most will not let her suck from the breasts. Nora has always been the exception to this, and from day one, Summer would try to suckle milk from Nora. Once she got the hang of Annabel’s milk, she was obviously firmly attached to that milk bar. However, if needing comfort, she would latch onto Nora for just a few seconds.

It came as a big shock to Paradzai Mutize, the Head Carer up at Panda, who was casually observing one evening, to find that Summer was suckling from Nora for far longer than normal! On closer inspection, he got an even bigger shock to see that Summer was actually swallowing! Even further inspection of Nora’s teats, revealed milk dripping out! He was quickly on the phone to us to report this bizarre observation!

We have always known that elephants are renowned for Allomothering (parental care being provided by group members other than the genetic mother), but we did not know that an unrelated, non-lactating, female would suddenly start a "sympathetic lactation"! We have since done some research, and whilst this is not common, it can sometimes happen. Hormones align and oxytocin starts the lactation. We will be sampling the milk that Nora is producing, to see what the quality is and what is in it. However, it is not just a watery fluid … it is a white, milk like fluid. Fascinating.

Summer suckling from mother Annabel and Aunty Norah in the boma

Anyhow, I do think that this is a truly remarkable example of how closely linked elephants are to each other, and how deeply caring, connected and considerate they are of each other. Nora is not related to Annabel but they are unmistakably “family”.

My very sincere thanks to you, David and your Substack Reader Family for your tremendous support and encouragement of the Wild is Life Team. Gratitude to you all, in trunks!

With love
Rox xxx

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Hi Readers,

Raising funds for Wild is Life, and our other charities, is one of the main reasons why I write this newsletter. Of all the great virtues, Buddha taught generosity first. In giving we receive - immediately, in the happy knowledge of the virtue we are creating. And longer term in creating the karmic cause to experience future abundance.

If you are able, our little community here on Substack would love to welcome you as a paying subscriber. What you get each Saturday is an article or story from me, sharing the wisdom I have learned from my own lamas. More important is what you give: love, compassion and hope, manifest in the most extraordinary ways.

As we step into spring 2024 - or autumn, depending which hemisphere you live in - I very much hope that you may join our community of kindred spirits and bring fresh energy to our journey of compassion.

Warmest wishes,

David