Skondi

Introducing Skondi (short for Sekondomboro), a little boy who is now flourishing at Elephant Havens..

In August of 2025, we were alerted to a young elephant without a herd who was roaming the outskirts of Sekondomboro Village. After his mother succumbed to severe drought, this lost little one was seen listlessly following donkeys and cows searching for food and water.

A bit of “herd instinct” must have kicked in to lead little Skondi to do that, but this unusual behavior wasn’t ideal for a baby elephant. They need to be taught by their mothers and aunties of the herd what to eat and have it given to them. These little ones have yet to learn how to work their tiny trunks yet. Without that help, Skondi was gaunt and unsteady on his feet. 

Our team, led by tracker Mr. Ben, raced north to answer the call and rescue the orphaned calf. It wasn’t long before we found him and were able to carefully load him into our truck for the long ride south to Elephant Havens. Clearly he needed a lot of care—and quickly. 

It was easy to see that Skondi was severely undernourished and weak—unable even to stand on his own during the trip. But our wonderful rescue team provided him with care and support during the 8-hour drive to our orphanage from the Okavango Delta Panhandle. If not for Dr. Caron’s expert ministrations, we don’t believe he would have survived. 

Once he gained some strength, Skondi settled in well and quickly took to his new family as the handlers nourished and spoiled him—deservedly so. Handler Kay is a particular favorite of his, and he follows her whenever he can.

Fortunately, he began eating and taking his milk bottle right away, and we’re delighted to see how he’s continued to gain strength over his first six months with us. He’s now able to run for that tasty milk bottle that he loves so much. As he continues to grow and develop, we’re eager to see more of his unique personality emerge. 

Skondi is named after the village where he was rescued, a testament to the strong connection between our conservation efforts and the local community. We’re grateful for the support that makes his care and rehabilitation possible.