Chamilandu was only 1.5 years old when her mother was shot by poachers, leaving her a helpless orphan in South Luangwa National Park. After receiving help and care from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife as well as local conservation NGOs, Chamilandu was flown to the Kafue Release Facility in November 2007.

Chamilandu was a strong, healthy, and boisterous young elephant calf, however, she was severely traumatised by the loss of her mother and family. She suffered from nightmares and even screamed out when she slept, but with the reassurance, care, and attention of her Keepers, Chamilandu began to calm down and settled into her new life.

Over the years, Chamilandu grew into an incredibly affectionate and caring elephant. As the matriarch of the Release Herd, she welcomes and comforts any young new orphans that are translocated from the Lilayi Elephant Nursery.

In 2015, Chamilandu was almost entirely free-roaming, spending most nights outside the protection of the Boma with Batoka. However, in October 2017, In September 2017, Chamilandu was isolated and mounted by a wild Kafue bull elephant whilst in oestrus (reproductively receptive).

On 9th September 2019 Chamilandu returned to the elephant boma with the other orphans at lunchtime. This was highly unusual as she had not been inside for over four months so the team were immediately on high alert. Chamma seemed tired and leaned against the boma structure to rest for a while. When she moved away she looked uncomfortable and was clearly not relaxed. She urinated and a number of the orphans became highly interested in the scent as she displayed nervous behaviours. It was beginning to become very evident that something was about to happen.

The entire team stood in amazement to witness the first wild born calf to an orphaned elephant in Zambia, a truly historic moment for the project and arguably the entire species. Mutaanzi-David represents a success story of an orphaned elephant who went on to become a mother of a wild calf who has not been hand-raised by keepers.