WE DID IT!
TSWALE IS FREE!
AFTER YEARS OF SOLITUDE, HE HAS A FAMILY OF HIS OWN!

🐘 From Captivity to Freedom -- Meet Tswale, a majestic African elephant who spent most of his life in isolation, surrounded by humans but far from his elephant family.

Once used for tourist rides and educational programs, Tswale never stopped yearning for what elephants need most, the company of their own kind. After years of failed rescue attempts, his day finally came. Conservation heroes from Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) and WeWild Africa made it possible for Tswale to begin his return to the wild.

To ensure his safety and comfort, Tswale traveled alongside his lifelong companion, keeper, Jivendava, who stayed by his side for emotional support during the journey.

The plan was always for Tswale to be integrated into a small herd where he could live out his long life as nature intended, wild and free, a family of his own, in his natural habitat.

🌍 Why This Matters Elephants are sentient beings and keystone species, essential for Africa’s landscapes, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Every elephant returned to the wild helps restore balance and hope for future generations.

💚 How You Helped. Tswale was taken to a secure location and the idea was to keep him separate from the herd he was to be integrated into to ensure they would accept him, without casualties on either side. Tswale decided he wanted to join them three days earlier than planned and busted out on his own!

📌 Love what we do and want to help? Donate here: https://www.overandaboveafrica.com/donate-button

📌 Learn more about our work: OverAndAboveAfrica.com

🙏 Thank you for caring, your support makes rescues like Tswale’s possible.

Photos and video: Wiki West @mosquitomedia