Her name means ‘where the old cows meet’ and Shirheni has grown into a very doting and natural mother in the Abu herd. She gave birth to Raditlou Wantha, the first baby to be born within Abu Camp. Poor little Raditlou was two months premature and sadly died after just 13 days. Shirheni quickly mated with a wild bull in the area and presented the camp with Pula (who has subsequently been successfully released), a little bull who has thrived and then baby Abu, another lively young bull. Shirheni was one of the original ‘brat pack’ of six young elephant orphans saved from a cull in the Kruger National Park. She has all the necessary maternal attributes of calmness, patience and a loving nature and is a great favourite among the mahouts. |
Known to all as “Baby Abu”, Abu was Sirheni’s third baby born in 2006. A firm favourite at the camp, this playful and energetic young bull entertains guests with his efforts to keep up with the herd and mimic their conduct during the rides. Abu was, of course, named after the late and much lamented tusker, Abu (see In Memoriam) after whom the original camp was named. |