Kartijah is the super-mum and matriarch of the Elephant Conservation Centre, being the first elephant to arrive at the centre's location. She was named after a national heroine for women's emancipation in Indonesia. The Elephant Conservation Centre has grown and changed around her since her arrival back in 1984 when she was rescued from an uncovered well in Susukan Baru at the age of four.
Kartijah has given birth to three bull elephants, Adi, Gusti and Joni and just gave birth again in October 2016. Adi is currently in Bali, Gusti sadly fell ill and died at the age of one, and Joni who was born in 2009 is still at the Elephant Conservation Centre, growing into a fine young bull. As well as her own babies, Kartijah is mother and nanny to all who need her. She shares the story of loss of her family herd and life as an orphan with other orphans who come into the Centre such as Pepi and Yekti (pictured above) and more recently baby Erin. Tragically Pepi (who was so loved by many people and elephants) passed away October 15th 2016 from Elephant Herpes a virus which is usually fatal in young or weak animals.
The orphan elephants have a special bond and can be heard rumbling to one another, perhaps knowing that they all have a sad and lonely past, and need to help one another heal. Kartijah has a healing protective influence on all those around her.
Kartijah has given birth to three bull elephants, Adi, Gusti and Joni and just gave birth again in October 2016. Adi is currently in Bali, Gusti sadly fell ill and died at the age of one, and Joni who was born in 2009 is still at the Elephant Conservation Centre, growing into a fine young bull. As well as her own babies, Kartijah is mother and nanny to all who need her. She shares the story of loss of her family herd and life as an orphan with other orphans who come into the Centre such as Pepi and Yekti (pictured above) and more recently baby Erin. Tragically Pepi (who was so loved by many people and elephants) passed away October 15th 2016 from Elephant Herpes a virus which is usually fatal in young or weak animals.
The orphan elephants have a special bond and can be heard rumbling to one another, perhaps knowing that they all have a sad and lonely past, and need to help one another heal. Kartijah has a healing protective influence on all those around her.