A MIRACLE IN THE WILD
- jeni548
- 22 hours ago
- 6 min read
ORPHANED ELEPHANT CHAMILANDU WELCOMES A BABY GIRL - BORN TRULY WILD
Jeni Vanhoucke,
GRI-Communications Director
On a quiet morning in the south of Kafue National Park, a seemingly ordinary drive led to an extraordinary discovery, one that marks a historic moment for elephant conservation in Zambia.
Chamilandu, the eldest released female of GRI’s Elephant Orphanage Project (EOP), has given birth to a healthy baby girl in the wild. This is not simply the birth of a calf. It is the birth of hope - for Kafue’s elephant population, for long-term rewilding, and for a species still recovering from heavy poaching losses.
A Birth in the Perfect Place
The calf was born just off the road, in a place that offered Chamilandu everything a mother elephant could hope for: wide, open visibility to allow her to detect approaching predators; soft, green, early-season grasses near the river, offering easily digestible energy, and the life-giving waters and lush floodplains of Nkala Pools only steps away. Elephants are deeply intuitive mothers, and Chamilandu’s choice reflects this instinctive strategy - finding a spot where safety, food, water and calm meet.
What makes this birth even more poignant is how different it is from her initial journey into motherhood. When she laboured with her first calf, Mutaanzi David in 2019, Chamilandu returned to the Elephant Release Facility and delivered inside the very boma where she had once been supported through her rehabilitation, seeking the familiarity and security of her Rangers. This time, she chose the wild. That shift speaks volumes. It tells us she feels safe, supported by her herd, confident in herself, and fully rooted in her natural home. Her decision to calve independently on the landscape is a powerful testament to her resilience, her growth, and her steady transformation into a strong, assured second-time mother.
Chamilandu with her firstborn Mutaanzi David in 2019 (L) and now, with her newborn baby girl (R)
A Chance Encounter and a Peaceful First Meeting
In the three days leading up to the birth, our team had sighted Chamilandu daily, noting her calm behaviour. Her once very rotund pregnant form had slimmed down over the past month, a change consistent with the recent scarcity of vegetation and reminiscent of her previous pregnancy in the weeks before she delivered. On the morning she gave birth, the team encountered her completely by chance during a routine drive out of camp.
What they saw was extraordinary: Chamilandu gently nudging her newborn, encouraging her to stand for the first time.
The team maintained a respectful distance to observe this wonder. There were no signs of distress or aggression. Their presence was simply acknowledged - a quiet meeting between those who once raised Chamilandu and the wild mother she has now become.
Understanding the Birth: What Labour Looks Like in Elephants
Chamilandu’s labour and delivery most likely followed the familiar rhythm seen in wild elephant births. Early signs of labour can stretch over many hours, but the final stage is usually swift, with the calf emerging front feet first, followed closely by the head.
As soon as the baby is born, elephant mothers instinctively use their trunks to touch and stimulate the calf, removing any membranes and gently nudging it to stand - an essential first step for bonding, stability, and the all-important first drink of milk. Within minutes, the scent of amniotic fluid and afterbirth draws the attention of nearby elephants, signalling them to gather, investigate, and form a protective circle around the newborn. This shared excitement and immediate collective vigilance are hallmarks of a healthy, socially bonded herd welcoming one of its newest members.
The Herd That Welcomed Her
Elephant society is built on female bonds, and this birth activated the full strength of that system.
Witnessing the birth was a small but remarkable gathering - an intimate circle of elephants drawn together at the very moment a new life entered the world. Two wild females stood nearby, strangers to our monitoring team but instantly part of the unfolding story, their presence a reminder that Chamilandu now moves freely within the wider social networks of wild elephants. Close by was Mutaanzi David, her firstborn, now a confident six-year-old. He watched with a mix of curiosity and calm, experiencing his own transformation from only calf to proud older sibling. Beside him were Kavala and Mosi, Chamilandu’s long-time orphan companions - now stood in quiet solidarity as she brought new life into the world.
At the centre of it all was Chamilandu herself - experienced, composed, and deeply present in her maternal role, guiding her newborn through her first breaths with a serenity that spoke to her strength, her history, and her growing place within the wild family she now calls her own.
For released elephants to draw in wild elephants - and for those wild individuals to participate peacefully in such a sensitive moment - demonstrates deep social integration and trust. Elephants often form a “midwife circle” around a newborn, checking on the calf, supporting the mother and creating a protective barrier. These early interactions were observed clearly on the ground.
This is the self-constructed orphan herd working exactly as nature intended.
Why Being Born Fully Wild Matters
This is Chamilandu’s second calf - but the first born without any human assistance, in a completely wild setting, surrounded by both wild and released elephants.
This means:
She did not rely on humans
Her herd structure is functional and resilient
Released elephants are successfully integrating with wild elephants
Reproduction is occurring naturally within the rewilded population
Every wild-born calf is a sign of ecological healing.
Kafue’s elephants suffered immense losses during the poaching crisis. Many of the orphans in our care - including Chamilandu - lost their mothers to poachers. During her first few weeks as tiny orphan, she would scream out for her mother in the night. Now, eighteen years later, her own daughter has entered the world surrounded by protection, calm, and community.
From a tiny orphan (L) to an experienced mother (R) - Chamilandu has become a symbol of healing for Zambia’s elephants
From an orphan crying for her mother to a mother raising her calves among a blended family of wild and rescued elephants, this moment represents the very essence of rewilding success.
A Milestone for Conservation - and a Responsibility
A birth like this is more than a celebratory moment, it is an indicator.
Elephants are not just surviving in Kafue. They are recovering. They are rebuilding. They are creating the next generation on their own.
But with this hope comes responsibility.
Every wild-born calf deepens the responsibility to safeguard this growing family. Each new arrival increases the need for careful monitoring of both released and wild elephants, stronger protection against poaching threats, and continued research to understand how the herd is expanding and bonding over time. It also reinforces the importance of long-term support for the orphan herd as they navigate their reintegration into the wider landscape, ensuring that every calf born into this emerging wild lineage has the best possible future. This calf is a symbol of healing, but that healing must be protected.
Protect This New Life and the Future She Represents
Your valuable support enables the monitoring, research, and protection required to safeguard elephants like Chamilandu and her newborn daughter. Please consider donating to GRI to support elephant monitoring and protection.
Milestone moments like this are a triumph, but they are only possible because of the long-term commitment of GRI and our partners. The GRI - Elephant Orphanage Project is proudly supported by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, International Fund for Animal Welfare and Olsen Animal Trust. Kafue National Park is managed by the Greater Kafue Landscape Ltd, a partnership between African Parks and the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife.
Born from courage and resilience, Chamilandu’s calf is a true miracle. Very soon we shall be presenting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to choose a name for this precious baby elephant - a chance to WIN the honour of choosing a name that begins her story. Stay Tuned!
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