In Kent we are lucky enough to have the UK’s largest herd of African elephants right on our doorstep. To mark World Elephant Day, we meet Howletts’ star attractions.

Being an elephant keeper at Howletts Wild Animal Park isn’t just a job – it’s a 24/7 vocation.

The team form a deep bond with the animals, getting to know their personalities, their likes, dislikes and little whims.

“We never make them do anything – not that we could anyway,” said Natalie Boyd, head elephant keeper at the park near Canterbury. “You don’t have control over the elephants. They have to want to come out and want to go in. They are just free to be elephants.”

Recently, 24-hour cameras were fitted to their enclosure so staff could check on the herd remotely. “Just watching them and learning about them is so great. They are very clever animals,” said Natalie.

“You go home thinking you could do more. It is like having 13 children to look after. We are quite pathetic, but you couldn’t do it if you wanted a 9 to 5 job.”

The herd have a nine-acre paddock and are naturally split into two family groups, with matriarch Masa the overall ‘leader’. Getting Masa to like her has taken patience, dedication and 15 years of Natalie’s life. And she’s still not there.

“I see it as a challenge,” she said. “Masa’s seen lots of people like me come and go. She’s such a good mum and grandma. It makes me want her to like me.”

Masa is thought by staff to be in her late 50s as she is on her last set of her teeth and now has her food chopped up. Elephants start their lives with six sets of teeth and lose them naturally. Also in the group is female Shibi, who has never had a calf of her own but has a mothering instinct and is a great aunty.

Masa’s daughter Jana and son Mchumba are also in the herd, as are her granddaughter and grandson, who run and play together. In the other group, the eldest elephant is Tammi, who is in her late 20s and who does not get on well with Masa.

“Tammi likes me,” said Natalie. “She’s very gentle with me. Sometimes she just comes over and just lets me scratch under her eyes and ears. There’s no reason for them to interact with us, but sometimes they choose to. They are quite wonderful in their way.”

Also in the herd is a young male called Mchumba, who has bags of character and plays with his smaller nephew, although sometimes their rough and tumble can go too far.

“We put emotions on them, and say sometimes he is naughty, but really Mchumba is just a normal elephant,” said Natalie. "It is just so nice to work with elephants that have got all that character. You hear a little scream and all the elephants gather round to sort it out. It’s quite eerie when they scream.

“I wish I knew what they were saying. You can work with them 15 years and realise you still have it all to learn – you don’t know them at all.”

THE HERD

Unlikely as it sounds, Kent is home to the largest herd of African elephants in the country.
The 13 elephants – which also makes the herd the second biggest in Europe – live at Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury, and are looked after by a team of six keepers, plus volunteers.

On Friday, August 12, World Elephant Day aims to promote conservation and protection of elephants around the world.

Poaching, habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and mistreatment in captivity are just some of the threats to both African and Asian elephants.

The Howletts herd live at the park which is home to more than 400 animals and is part of the animal conservation charity, the Aspinall Foundation, which also runs Port Lympne Reserve, near Hythe.

IT'S A DIRTY JOB...

With 13 elephants comes a large amount of – you guessed it – dung.
The herd deposits a veritable mountain of poo each day and, although keepers do not have to pick up all of it every day, they do.
Head keeper Natalie said: “We’ve never weighed it. But we know it’s about 2 tonnes a day. It’s just part of the job.”

AN ELEPHANTS' LIFE

Howletts’ staff keep the nine-acre paddock elephant clean and tidy but try to vary things so there’s no set routine.

The animals have a pool area and somewhere for them to have their glorious mud baths.
Staff give them food in ingenious ways so that they have to work for it – and the elephants usually opt for the more difficult option. They have also taken to putting their food higher up, and in trees, so that they can build their neck muscles.

“They are quite dexterous with their trunks but not with their feet, so they have to try and work it out,” said Natalie.

Natalie added: “Conservation and education is so important with elephants. Ninety six elephants a day are poached in the world and orphans are left behind. People are very lucky to see this herd.”

DETAILS

Find Howletts at Bekesbourne, CT4 5EL, and is signposted off the A2. For more details, opening times and prices, visit aspinallfoundation.org or call 01227 721286.