Nzou Elephant Ruled Buffalo Herd

Nzou, a female elephant at Zimbabwe’s Imire reserve, shuns other elephants and has led a buffalo herd for decades. She arrived at Imire in the 1970s after people found her orphaned in Zimbabwe’s lowveld, and caretakers placed her with buffalo when she was still young. Over more than 40 years in charge, she killed 14 young male buffalo that challenged her leadership. After several failed attempts to return her to an elephant herd, conservancy managers accepted that her place was with the buffalo.

Previous Fact Next Fact