After I posted about Thambo last week, I thought that I’d introduce you to Shamwari Reserve’s cutest couple. They are Themba, the elephant, and Albert, the sheep. Themba and Albert have an extraordinary bond which has been well documented in newspapers all over the world, making the cute couple instantly recognisable to tourists staying at Shamwari Game Reserve. Themba is originally from the Sabona Wildlife Reserve and was tragically orphaned when his mother fell off a cliff. Vets at the reserve monitored Themba for a week hoping that he would be suckled by another elephant calf, but when this failed to happen Shamwari Game Reserve offered to take him in so that he did not starve to death.
It was whilst staying at Shamwari Reserve that he was introduced to Albert the sheep. The first meeting wasn’t a success, and after Themba made a dash for Albert the shivering sheep hid in an enclosure for twelve hours. But during those twelve hours Themba’s gentle curiosity won Albert over. Themba repeatedly touched Albert with his trunk and the next morning the sheep felt safe enough to leave his enclosure. During that first outing Themba wouldn’t leave Albert’s side and the two were seen exploring the enclosure with Themba’s trunk resting on the small of Albert’s back. Ever since then the two animals have been inseparable and Albert even accompanies Themba on the eight-hour daily strolls that are essential for Themba’s development.
The pair is such a close-knit duo that when the conservation volunteers at Shamwari Game Reserve are asked to babysit Themba they know that they get Albert in with the mix. Babysitting Themba is a rewarding experience that the conservation volunteers are allowed to do only once whilst staying at Shamwari Reserve. However, it seems that once is more than enough for most of the weary volunteers at Shamwari as Themba just doesn’t let you get any sleep. The students are required to babysit Themba in pairs as a baby elephant can be pretty boisterous. For this reason, the rangers only allow male-female partnerships as, I’m afraid to say, it would be hard for two women to control a rampaging young elephant. The babysitting experience is a lot like a sleepover and the students are told to bring snacks and a sleeping bag along so that they can stay in the enclosure with Themba. Although for most of the students babysitting an elephant is an once-in-a-lifetime experience, Themba’s propensity to consistently bang his trunk against the enclosure doors ensures that Albert isn’t the only one getting no sleep.
