The Elephant Whisperer

Askari is a Swahili word meaning “soldier” or “guard.” In the matriarchal elephant herd, young bulls are ostracized when they attain maturity. In turn, these bulls find other young bulls to form a loosely knit bachelor herd, usually under the guidance of an older, larger, and more experienced bull. The young bulls within this bachelor herd are often termed askari, as they stand in attendance to the older bull.

Throughout Africa, a boma refers to an enclosure or fort used to contain and protect livestock. However, it is also used in wildlife conservation in multiple ways. A boma can be used to habituate a newly introduced animal into its home, as is done with the herd when they first arrive at Thula Thula. It can function as a quarantine pen, where animals that have suffered sickness or injury are kept for intervention. Animals that are captured for relocation can also be placed in a boma while the logistics are worked out: Anthony uses the boma in this way with the nyala, which Nana subsequently sets free from the enclosure.