Come up with a name for this junior jumbo

Help Thula Thula Private Reserve in Zululand find a name for its newest inhabitant.

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Durban - Bull elephant Mabula was celebrating fatherhood recently after his mate, Nandi, gave birth to a baby boy at Thula Thula Private Reserve in Zululand.

Known as a “real character” with eccentric behaviour, entertaining antics and an ongoing demand for attention, Mabula cannot join the breeding herd. But according to Thula Thula’s, Francoise Malby Anthony, he is keeping a close eye on his new offspring.

Malby Anthony invited readers to send suggestions for a name for the baby.

“The whole herd was hidden in thick bush for quite a few days and we suspected a new birth as the herd was difficult to see during game drives.

“Then, a day after the birth, I saw the herd coming out of the thick bush from the southern part of the reserve,” said Malby Anthony.

The elephants took their time, with the calf being carefully shielded by its mother and aunt as he tottered around.

“The baby is constantly protected by his mother and his aunt Induna, both daughters of the matriarch, Nana. “The whole herd walks a short distance and then stops to rest with the baby, with the other elephants all taking turns to huddle around them.

“It’s quite impressive how they show their trust in humans as they appeared to be very peaceful browsing in open areas with a new baby.

“Today the baby is a little more stable and sometimes walks in the open between Nandi and Induna,” added Malby Anthony.

She described the baby elephant as a “big boy” who is drinking 12 litres of milk a day. “Drinking that much milk results in gaining nearly 15 kilograms a week.

Baby elephants are dependent on their mothers for feeding and drink their milk for about two years, sometimes longer.

At about four months old, he will begin eating some plants, but will still need as much milk from his mother,” she said.

Thula Thula was founded as a refuge for elephants by Malby Anthony’s late husband, iconic conservationist and explorer Lawrence Anthony of Elephant Whisperer fame, who also garnered international recognition when he rescued animals from the Baghdad Zoo during the US invasion in Iraq in 2003.

He died of a heart attack in 2012, just before the launch of his book The Last Rhinos.

Malby Anthony said there are now 30 elephants on the reserve which has reached capacity. They currently have an opportunity to add an additional 3 500 hectares to the reserve, which would need 35km of electric fencing, new roads, increased security, training and land management for which they are raising funds.

Suggestions for a name can be sent to: francoise@thula-thula.co.za

Independent on Saturday