ABOUT DIARY OF AN ELEPHANT ORPHAN
A documentary by Hermien Roelvert-van Gils
Diary of an Elephant Orphan follows the journey of a baby elephant orphan and her passionate team, on their mission to integrate her back into an elephant herd.
Little orphan elephant Khanyisa miraculously survives severe dehydration and malnourishment, after being trapped in a deadly poacher's snare. After being rescued and nursed back to health, a much larger challenge awaits her: she needs a family of her own.
The experienced team knows that a wild elephant herd will, most likely, not accept her. The next best option is to try with a semi-wild family - one made up of orphaned elephants themselves that had been rescued from Zimbabwe 25 years ago.
Will this herd of 15 elephants accept little Khanyisa? Will these large, 3 tonne animals allow the human carers to feed the baby her milk amongst them in the bush out in Big 5 territory?
The team hasn't attempted anything like this with such a young elephant before, but they know that it’s best for her in the long run. If they manage to pull it off, this might change the face of elephant rehabilitation in South Africa.
Produced, directed, written, filmed and co-edited by Hermien Roelvert-van Gils.
Where to seE Diary of an elephant orphan?
(WE WILL POST THE FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS HERE AS THEY GET ANNOUNCED.)
Romford Film Festival, England, 24 - 28 May 2024Encounters Film Festival, South Africa, 20 - 30 June 2024
Chesapeake Fim Festival, Chesapeake Bay, USA, 27 September 2024Catalina Film Festival, California, USA, 27 September 2024Chagrin Documentary Film Fest, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA, 3 October 2024Buffalo Int’l Film Festival, Buffalo, New York, 13 October 2024Dokumentale.Berlin, Zeiss-Großplanetarium & Kant Kino, Berlin 17-18 October 2024Reel East Texas Film Festival, Kilgore, Texas, USA, 7-10 Nov 2024
Trailer for Diary of an Elephant Orphan
Photo credit: Hermien Roelvert-Van Gils, Adine Roode, Ruan Roos
About filmmaker: Hermien Roelvert-van Gils
Hermien Roelvert-van Gils has produced, directed, filmed and edited factual documentary content with a focus on the environment for the past 17 years. She stared Skydrum Films, a production company in South Africa that has won awards for its stories. Diary of an Elephant Orphan is her first solo feature film that she produced, filmed, scripted, directed and co-edited.
Tokwe wants to taste what’s in that bottle! #elephantdocumentary #elephantmatriarch
See baby Khanyisa react to smelling lion scat for the first time