Expansion of Elephant Habitat
When the original herd of 7 elephants in September 1999 arrived at Thula Thula, they were classified as “rogue” and “troublemakers”. Our herd of elephants, made famous in the best-sellers “The Elephant Whisperer”, “An Elephant In My Kitchen”, and “The Elephants Of Thula Thula” has now increased to the maximum sustainable capacity.
Contraception Program For Our Female Elephants
Immunocontraception uses the female elephant’s own immune response to block egg fertilisation. Female elephants over the age of 10 years are treated remotely from a helicopter with a dart that contains the immunocontraception vaccine and a marking substance.that creates a quick reference of which animals have been darted. The dart falls out shortly afterwards. The animals do not need to be immobilised to be treated and vaccinations are completed within minutes.
An Alternative To Relocation
Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States have funded cuttingedge research on the use of this nonsteroidal, nonhormonal and humane method of African elephant population control since 1996. HSI/Africa uses the immunocontraception vaccine as a humane population growth control method and effective alternative to the traditional method of culling. Female elephants over the age of 10 years are treated remotely from a helicopter with a dropout dart that contains the immunocontraception vaccine and a marking substance.
The animals do not need to be immobilized to be treated, and vaccinations are completed within minutes. Since the start of the program, HSI has administered the immunocontraceptive vaccine to approximately 70 percent of breeding females outside the Greater Kruger National Park system. HSI/Africa works to protect elephants from habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and other threats through advocacy, education, policy and regulatory reforms, ivory-demand reduction programs and on-the-ground conflict resolution efforts.
It is the only nongovernmental organization that specifically works on humane methods of fertility control in and around zones where elephants could come into conflict with surrounding communities. Visit www.hsi.org or @hsiafrica for more info
Solution
The Thula Thula land expansion project for the elephant habitat was initiated in October 2020. This expansion is being carried out in phases and is an ongoing project.
Phase 1:
the south side of Thula Thula was secured, fenced and opened in November 2021, adding 350 hectares of land.
Phase 2:
the east side of Thula Thula was secured, fenced, two dams built and opened in May 2024 adding 1030 hectares bringing the total land of Thula Thula to 5256 hectares.
If you wish to support the Thula Thula expansion project, you can:
- Sponsor 1 acre of the extended Thula Thula land for $50
- Buy 1 metre of fencing for $100
- Adopt a Thula Thula elephant for $50 per month and receive a Certificate of Adoption as well as the story with additional photos of your adopted elephant.
"If animals could speak, mankind would weep! Our stay was amazing, couldn’t have imagined a better stay. Just wish we could stay longer."
