Niël Terblanché
A baby elephant that the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) along with officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism tried to rescue and relocate on Monday to an orphanage died as a result of severe trauma after it was abandoned by its mother.
The volunteers from the EHRA confirmed that the elephant calf from the Ugab West herd died, despite the tireless efforts of veterinary professionals and conservation teams who fought to save its life.
“The calf was first observed on 11 February 2025. Although it was moving and attempting to drink milk, it had been abandoned by both its mother and the herd,” said EHRA in a statement on their social media platform.
EHRA is now awaiting the results of the numerous samples taken by the veterinarians, which the organisation hopes will provide insights into why calves from this specific elephant population have experienced such high mortality rates for over a decade.
“While the loss of this calf is heartbreaking, it may ultimately help us better understand and address the reproductive challenges facing Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants,” EHRA said.
According to EHRA, the untimely death of the orphaned elephant reinforces the urgent need for continued research into elephant calf mortality and sustained conservation efforts to mitigate human-elephant conflict, protect habitats, and ensure the long-term survival of these unique animals.
According to MEFT spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, given the Ugab herd’s history of high calf mortality rates, authorities intervened to prevent the young elephant from perishing.
“This particular herd has had several calf mortalities in recent years, and it was determined that the calf would perish if no intervention was initiated,” Muyunda said in a statement released over the past weekend.
He added that the herd’s unique adaptation to arid conditions made the survival of young elephants particularly challenging.
In collaboration with volunteers from the EHRA and Ondjamba Hills, MEFT officials transported the calf to Okutala Etosha Lodge under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Muyunda said that upon arrival, the calf received immediate medical attention from an MEFT veterinarian before being placed under the care of Dr Simone Hertzog, an expert in treating orphaned elephants.
“Research into the high calf mortality rate in this region is ongoing, and we hope to identify the causes to ensure the survival of these unique animals,” Muyunda said.
Muyunda on behalf of the ministry, expressed its gratitude to all parties involved in the rescue and rehabilitation efforts and remains committed to investigating the high mortality rate among elephant calves in the Ugab River area.
He also encouraged the public to report any wildlife crime through its dedicated SMS line, reinforcing its stance on wildlife conservation and protection.
