Themba, the baby elephant, lost his mother after she fell down a cliff. The team at the Shamwari Rehabilitation Centre rescued him and for two years they dedicated their lives to getting this very special orphan back to the wild.

Themba soon befriended a very patient sheep named Albert, and together they formed a bond as strong as any human friendship. Albert never left Themba’s side and would follow Themba and his carers on long walks; share in Themba’s favourite snack of acacia pods; and when Themba took a dust bath, so did Albert. If any of the other animals at the Rehabilitation Centre tried to join in their fun and games, super protective Albert would make it quite clear that they were most unwelcome. The unlikely pair also made friends with a baby giraffe, and enemies with a baby hippo.