Wild is Life

Our Dear Substack Readers, Thank you for being such a loyal and encouraging group of people. It is deeply appreciated and has gone a long way in helping us all continue with the work that we do on a daily basis. This past month has been one of many endings. Most of them, intolerable endings. It is said that endings are necessary to clear space for new energy and new beginnings, but, quite frankly, my heart will be left completely empty if this cycle is to continue.

We are proud to introduce Papa, our newest Anti-Poaching Dog (APD) at Wild is Life. He is a 7 month old Belgian Malinois, and his arrival marks an important step in strengthening our conservation work on the ground. Young Papa, ready to take his new and important role in protecting wildlife. Poaching remains an ongoing threat.

My Dear Readers, Thank you for staying “with” us and reading our Substacks. I know we are not terribly prolific, but when we do say something, we really mean it! Recently, I have seen a couple of posts from both Elephant Voices and The Sheldrick Trust, speaking to the subject of the damaging impact that “Cute” AI content has on the real work of conservation.

Gusu is a young male orphan elephant rescued in Hwange National Park in 2019. Now he is a confident, independent elephant navigating landscapes across Zimbabwe and Botswana. Gusu’s story joins the journey in the power of patience, rehabilitation, and the wild herd’s guidance in shaping true independence of orphaned elephants.

We have been working on a very special project for some years that turned out to be quite complicated, but so rewarding! Our vision is to produce a short film filmed from the perspective of an elephant in the wild… To do so we attached GoPro cameras to the satellite tracking collars that some of the elephants wear to allow us to monitor their movements in the wild.

Our dear Readers, We are now well into 2026, having received way above our normal rainfall, which is just bliss. The grasslands are recovering well, the trees are jumping out of the ground and the food for animals is plentiful. It is a time of abundance and growth, the part of the year that I absolutely love. I tend to leave all my windows open, so I can hear the rain at night.

My dear Readers, I hope you have enjoyed a very happy Christmas and holiday period! Family get togethers are always a bit stressful, but, nonetheless, an important part of our society and humanity. I hope yours was smooth and peaceful, having created memories for years to come! This period between Christmas and the New Year is always a bit of a tricky time, I find. It is a time of limbo, of waiting and hoping. Madness really, as its just mathematics and numbers, but it cannot be helped.

This time of year has a special kind of energy. While many are wrapping up projects, planning Christmas gatherings, and getting into the festive spirit, life at Wild is Life takes on its own joyful whirlwind. December is one of our busiest months at the Sanctuary, in the best possible way, with many guests coming for a quality experience observing the animals, but this is also the season when ourtiny orphaned animal nursery begins to fill up.

My dear VIP Readers! There are only about 100 of you, so I feel that it is a lovely safe place to write about my midnight thoughts and relatively private goings on at the Sanctuary. Your paid membership is so appreciated by me and the whole team at Wild is Life.

2025 was a year that tested our courage, deepened our compassion, and reaffirmed our belief in second chances. There were fires and farewells, rescues and reunions and through it all, an unbreakable thread of hope. Thanks to your support, your visit, your donation, your attention, your kind words, your subscription - Wild is Life and the ZEN herds have not only endured but continued to thrive, to heal, and to return to the wild where they belong.