Conservation often focuses on survival of a species, and while this is important, it is underpinned by an indisputable fact: individual animals matter.
This is exemplified by the story of rescued elephant Annabelle, who has made the most of her second chance at life.
Annabelle was rescued in 2015 with two other elephant calves. The zoo to which they were being sent rejected them due to their physical imperfections. As they had been taken from their mothers at such a young age, their recovery would be complicated, however they were taken in by IFAW partner Wild is Life in Zimbabwe.
Annabelle is missing her tail and half her trunk, possibly due to an attack by lions or hyenas when she was very young. The damage to her trunk meant it was unlikely she would survive in the wild; elephants use their trunk to grasp objects, take in large amounts of water, swat insects and spray dust over themselves, eat grass and soil for much-needed nutrients, as well as for social bonding and communication. It is one of the animal kingdom’s most versatile and complex appendages.
However Annabelle worked around her disability. She learnt how to use her left foot to lift an orange to her mouth, and to kick a clump of grass to break it up before eating it. Her carers noticed her strong and determined personality – she could still use her trunk as a weapon to show her displeasure.
Annabelle also started showing compassion for other disabled elephants, especially partially-blind Nora, whom Annabelle guides patiently through the bush, and stays beside while sleeping, mothering and eating.
In 2018, Annabelle and five other elephants were translocated to Panda Masuie Forest Reserve, where she became a leader of the herd. Reflecting her independence, she would sometimes wander out for up to six weeks with wild elephants before returning to the bomas.
In January last year, she gave birth to a calf named Summer, who is thriving. We look forward to watching them both remain important members of the herd and hearing about Annabelle’s leadership and strength for decades to come.
Poaching – mainly for ivory – kills 100 elephants every day in Africa, leaving many calves orphaned and abandoned. After rescue, these calves can be with us for up to 10 years, with dedicated full-time carers, before they return back to the wild.
In addition to rescuing individual animals, we are also addressing the big picture. Our project, Room to Roam, is securing and connecting habitats, creating safe passages for wildlife to travel freely through their home ranges in East and Southern Africa.
Because of the critical role elephants play as ecosystem engineers, saving elephants such as Annabelle, and protecting them and the landscapes in which they roam indirectly protects the other wildlife and plants sharing their habitats. This promotion of healthy ecosystems is critical for the planet’s, and our, health.
By International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
See more information about Annabelle, including videos, click here.
Top Image: Annabelle is missing half her trunk but it hasn’t stopped her becoming an important member of her herd. Credit: Donal Boyd / © IFAW
May 2025