The captivating journey of Khanyisa, an albino elephant calf rescued after being caught in a snare in 2020, is being brought to animal lovers to relive and experience in an award-winning documentary to be streamed in South Africa.
South Africa (06 August 2025) – Back in 2020, the world was held captive by the survival of Khanyisa, the albino elephant orphan caught in a snare in South Africa.
Khanyisa’s journey and milestones have been prominently featured on Good Things Guy over the years, and her inspiring story forever immortalised in the documentary Diary of an Elephant Orphan by Hermien Roelvert-van Gils.
For the first time, South Africans can see this masterpiece for themselves on World Elephant Day on 12 August 2025.
Diary of an Elephant Orphan was released in 2024 and gained international success, winning 11 international film awards, and now it’s available for viewing in the country where it all began.
The documentary follows the dedicated team at HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development) Trust, South Africa’s first and only elephant orphanage, and its struggle to save three-month-old Khanyisa.
As Adine Roode and her team at HERD Trust fight to save the young calf’s life, the question remains: will Khanyisa, who is very young and totally reliant on milk from human carers, be accepted by the Jabulani elephant herd? And would they allow the human carers to continue to feed her? This is something that has never been attempted before. Secondly, would the Jabulani elephant herd accept a foreign baby orphan into their family?
Over the past decade, Southern Africa has seen an increase in orphaned and displaced elephant calves. The reasons are primarily increased poaching of elephants and other large game, together with human encroachment and destruction of traditional elephant habitat.
HERD Trust, established in 2019, provides rescued elephant calves with the love, structure, and second chance they deserve.
The trust currently has 16 elephants in their care and provides a stable social structure for orphaned elephants to be reintegrated, where their long-term well-being is prioritised.
The documentary will be available for viewing from 12 August 2025, World Elephant Day. Save the date!
South Africans who want to view the documentary can visit the Eventive online streaming service.
Sources: Supplied
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