2 days ago
Award-winning documentary on HERD's Khanyisa now online
HOEDSPRUIT – South Africans finally have the chance to watch the moving and award-winning documentary Diary of an Elephant Orphan, which tells the remarkable true story of Khanyisa, a rare albino elephant calf whose fight for life captured hearts around the world.
The film, directed by Hermien Roelvertvan Gils, is available locally for the first time today, World Elephant Day, via the online streaming platform Eventive. Access costs R170 and is time-limited: once purchased, you have seven days to start watching.
'In early 2020, Khanyisa was discovered in South Africa, badly injured after being caught in a wire snare. She was only three months old, alone, and entirely dependent on milk to survive. The snare had cut deeply into her cheeks and ears, leaving severe wounds that required immediate attention. She was taken to the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD) Trust, South Africa's first and only dedicated elephant orphanage,' said Marlien van der Westhuizen, public relations officer and senior fundraiser.
Also read: Orphaned albino elephant turns 5 at Hoedspruit rehab
She said that HERD founder Adine Roode and her team faced a daunting challenge.
'Khanyisa's survival depended not only on medical care and round-the-clock feeding but also on something far less certain: acceptance into the Jabulani herd. Integrating a young orphan into a wildbonded elephant family, especially one still reliant on human feeding, had never been attempted before.
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'Diary of an Elephant Orphan, released internationally in 2024, captures this extraordinary journey of care, hope, and resilience. The film has UPCOMING EVENT earned 11 international awards, including the Encounters Al Jazeera Award, Wildlife Film Festival in Rotterdam, Romford Film Festival in the United Kingdom, and multiple festivals in the United States such as Reel East, Prairie, Poppy Jasper, Ocean City, Chesapeake, Buffalo, and Catalina,' she added.
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But Khanyisa's story is more than one calf's survival; it is a window into a growing conservation crisis.
'Over the past decade, Southern Africa has seen a significant rise in orphaned and displaced elephant calves. This is largely due to escalating poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and the destruction of traditional elephant habitats. Calves are often found wandering alone after their mothers are killed, leaving them vulnerable to predators, starvation, and injury. HERD Trust, established in 2019, was created to give these calves a second chance.
Also read: Hoedspruit's 5-year-old albino elephant weaned
'The sanctuary now cares for 16 elephants, providing them with stable social structures and the opportunity to bond with a herd. The goal is not only survival but emotional and physical rehabilitation, allowing elephants to grow in a safe environment before being fully reintegrated into a herd. In Diary of an Elephant Orphan, viewers witness the tireless dedication of the HERD carers, the patience of the Jabulani herd, and the determined spirit of Khanyisa herself. It is a rare glimpse into the emotional lives of elephants and the people who fight to protect them,' she said.
