Family has jumbo footprints to fill after its orange-loving leader dies

For 22 years she was a leader, but the beginning of 2021 marked the demise of one of SA’s most well known — and beloved — personalities.

Last week, Frankie, the matriarch of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve’s 28-strong elephant herd, succumbed to liver disease at the age of 46. 

Though staff, including medical teams and anti-poaching personnel tried everything to save her, the great lady left her family for the first time since 1999 and faded in the thickets of her home.

Françoise Malby-Anthony, owner and executive director of the park, said the death of her namesake was unexpected, quick and early, as elephants usually live for 70-odd years.

“She was a different kind of animal,” Malby-Anthony said. “She was unique.”

“We still don’t have all the information. The herd is still dispersed and stressed. They went to see her remains on January 26. They are extraordinary animals. That’s why so many people love elephants; they are like people, only better.

“The loss of their matriarch is the loss of a leader and the loss of direction and purpose for the elephants. It will take some time to replace the torch. Humans are the same when we lose a loved one. 

“We did everything to save her — we normally don’t interfere with nature — but we did try to help her. As humans, we think we are so superior because we have modern medications and technology, but we’re not. All animals know better — she knew she was going to go.

“Everyone is heartsore. It’s like losing a family member because we knew her so well. When she was so sick and we were feeding her, we prepared all her meals with love. She loved oranges, so we would make the food as special for her as possible. It was like when you feed a child and think: ‘She’s going to love this.’ But it’s like losing a child too — it’s one of the most terrible things to happen.”

Frankie’s herd searched for her after she left, but has realised she won’t join them again. Now, in a new season for this famous herd, a new matriarch will emerge.

According to research by South African National Parks (SANParks) for the Kruger National Park, elephants experience grief in the same way humans do. 

“They will approach carcasses, touching and smelling them, and sometimes trying to revive them. Mothers have been seen carrying their dead babies around for several days. Elephants will investigate old bones, pick them up and move them around.

“They are also known to cover their fallen comrades with branches and debris. Other dead animals, including lion or even trampled hunters, may also be treated in this way,” the research says.

Two days after “elephant whisperer” and head of conservation at Thula Thula Lawrence Anthony died on March 2 2012, the elephants marched to the main house to pay their respects.

They did this again on the same day — March 4 — in 2013 and 2014.

The herd is famous because of Anthony’s memoir, The Elephant Whisperer, published in 2009.

It details the elephants’ lives and focuses on Nana, the matriarch of the first herd of seven elephants which arrived at Thula Thula on August 8 1999.

The original herd members were Nana, Frankie, Ilanga, Numzane, Mandla, Mabula and Marula. 

Frankie took over as matriarch soon after they arrived because Nana had cataracts.  

On January 17, Thula Thula announced Frankie’s death. 

“Good bye, Frankie, and rest in peace in your elephant heaven. You chose to leave your elephant and human family to die alone. We thought we could save you, but you knew better, as always. You were a true leader and we are all lost without you now.”

Malby-Anthony said it will take a while before a successor emerges. She predicts that elephant will be Marula, Frankie’s daughter, born in 1994, or Nandi, Nana’s daughter, born in 1984.

“Usually the eldest take over, but Nandi looks after her mother, who is nearly blind and completely blind at night. Because taking care of her mom is such a big job she may not be able to take care of a herd and her mom. But we will have to wait and see — it could take a few months.”