Watch: Tswale grazes freely after 2 decades in captivity
Tswale, the elephant bull recently released after more than 20 years in captivity, has been filmed grazing peacefully in Bellevue Forest Reserve.
New footage confirms that Tswale, the Mpumalanga elephant bull that was relocated after more than two decades in captivity, is adapting well to his new environment at Bellevue Forest Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
Lowvelder reports that Tswale was born in 1992 and spent most of his life on Lowhills Farm, in Mpumalanga, where he was used for educational purposes and human interaction under the care of handler, Amos Jivendava.
In May 2024, the farm’s owners, Shofeeds, obtained a court interdict to remove him after the property was illegally occupied by Sonell Joubert and Johann Möller, who claimed ownership of the elephant.
Following non-compliance with the court order, the Mpumalanga High Court authorised the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) to remove Tswale.
He was first transferred to a secure facility near Skukuza for quarantine and medical testing, then moved to Barberton Nature Reserve at Hilltop for rehabilitation.
Jivendava remained with Tswale throughout the process, limiting human contact to support rehabilitation efforts. After months of planning, Tswale was relocated to Bellevue Forest Reserve, selected for its suitable habitat and stable elephant population. The 15-hour journey was completed four weeks ago.
Initially placed in a rewilding enclosure, Tswale has since joined the resident herd and is reported to be displaying protective behaviour towards younger elephants.
“Tswale is home. We are honoured to provide him with a place where he can live freely, as nature intended,” Loodt Buchner, owner of Bellevue Forest Reserve, previously told Lowvelder.
“This case demonstrates that elephants raised in captivity can successfully adapt to wild conditions, reinforcing the importance of ethical conservation practices,” Dereck Milburn of WeWild Africa said.
The relocation was co-ordinated by the MTPA, WeWild Africa, the EMS Foundation, and Animaltalk Africa Trust. Jivendava has since moved on to assist with the rewilding of other captive elephants.
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