MEET THE
ELEPHANTS

For months, we were convinced that a highly aggressive elephant we encountered was a bull. On one occasion, she charged and nearly hit our vehicle. It took eight months of observation to realise that she was not a male at all, but a female acting out of fierce protection. She was guarding her fully grown calf, who was clearly unwell—constantly limping, very thin, missing the tip of its trunk, and struggling to keep up with the herd. We named the mother Murinzi, meaning "bodyguard," and her calf Survivor. Witnessing her determination, strength, and devotion shifted my understanding of elephant behaviour forever.

We identified four distinct individuals in Clan B, each with their own stories. These experiences transformed the way I guide, teach, and share information about Akagera's elephants. They taught me to look beyond surface behaviour and to tell stories that reflect the intelligence, emotion, and complexity of these animals.

Survivor was the fully grown calf of Murinzi, constantly limping, very thin, missing the tip of its trunk, and struggling to keep up with the herd. Despite these challenges, Survivor's story represents resilience and the powerful maternal protection that elephants demonstrate. This personal journey is at the heart of the Akagera Elephants Memories initiative and continues to shape everything the program stands for today.