HERD has released a gorgeous children’s book that tells the special and true story of Khanyisa, the little pink elephant who inspired the world, and it’s a must-read for anyone (even us older children known to the world as adults) who loves a real-life happy ending:
South Africa (27 October 2024) — I know the story of Khanyisa, the little pink elephant, well, writes GTG’s Ashleigh. It’s one that has made me cry and smile many times in the way that the best stories often do.
So, when the HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development) team shared that they were launching a new children’s book in honour of the little pink orphaned Ellie and her trunk-rearing triumph of a life, I knew I had to give it a read.
For those new to HERD, they are first dedicated elephant orphanage. What that means in short, is that they give elephants who have encountered great turbulence and loss in their lives (usually a result of poachers) a second chance at a family. At being part of a herd.
The book came wrapped up in wrapping paper that epitomises the deep appreciation and connection HERD has to their elephants. Each elephant printed on the paper is an abstraction of the real life elephants at HERD; denoting their unique physical characteristics and names.
Ready to tuck into ‘Khanyisa Braveheart: The Little Pink Elephant Who Inspired the World’ I cautioned myself with a box of tissues.
The pages revealed in illustrated fashion and child-friendly telling the story of Khanyisa, whose story began as a lonesome, tiny being (by elephant standards), trapped with a wire snare around her neck and no hope to be found. Not to spoil the ending, but Khaynisa’s life did not end there. Thanks to friends like Lammie the Legend, kind humans, new elephant family members and a fighting spirit as bright as the light Khanyisa is named after, Khanyisa’s story becomes more hopeful with each page all the way to the happy ending.
I imagined being a child reading this; knowing that it was not a tale of fiction, but a series of real moments. Perhaps that child might feel not just a deeper sentiment of sympathy and care for our animal friends, but also the empowerment of knowing that there are real heroes. And that they can become a real hero too.
Even for adults, the book brims with lessons. For one, there’s the obvious theme of friendship and connection. How we can’t do things on our own no matter how much we insist we can (humans too, need a herd). Then there’s patience. Patience in accepting that progress takes time (Khanyisa didn’t graduate from the orphanage in a day!). And acceptance. Khanyisa is different to all the other elephants because she is an albino Ellie. But the other elephants welcomed her, and one even adopted her despite them not sharing blood.
On the surface, the book is about a little pink elephant and the people who saved her life. But at a deeper glance, it’s a story about all of us. All who have been through something really tough and found our way back to the light.
Fantastic for kids and adults alike, the book can be purchased from the HERD shop and all proceeds go to supporting the elephants in the team’s care.
Khanyisa Braveheart’s wording is the result of HERD’s fantastic Tamlin Wightman, while illustrations were created by elephant manager Tigere Matipedza’s son, talented Aldin.
Interested in more proudly South African books? You can find more of our book reviews here.
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