eight month old, Kavala, was found traumatized, weak, and alone in Feira after poachers killed her mother. She was in terrible condition, and greeted her rescuers with a protruding spine and a severely sunken in face.
With a large abscess on her leg, and her body vulnerable to infected wounds, rescuers from Game Rangers International decided to give the calf immediate care rather than transporting her to a local facility. She was so desperate for comfort on her journey that she even tried sneaking into her rescuers’ sleeping bags!
In the abandoned stables at the Lilayi Game Park, Kavala received expert, round-the-clock care. She was the first elephant orphan to be cared for in Lilayi, and this catalyzed the fundraising for the Lilayi Elephant Nursery! For such a little baby, she is quite the big leader!
Kavala was gradually introduced to weak formulas of milk, and as time progressed, she started taking on the more concentrated formulas. CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!
Within the next few months, three orphaned elephants joined Kavala at the new nursery. Having more “tom-boy-like” qualities, Kavala preferred to take frequent mud baths, snack on vegetation, and trample about with her new best bud, Maramba.
As Kavala aged, however, she began taking on more maternal roles, breaking up fights between the younger boys and even allowing three month old Nkala to suckle on her ears!
Elephantopia