They say elephants never forget, but there’s one unique animal who seems to have forgotten that she’s an elephant. Nzou is an elephant who now identifies as one of the Imire Rhino and Elephant Reserve’s buffalo. Nzou — the African word for elephant — was brought to Imire in the 1970s when she was found orphaned. She was put with the largest herd animal — the buffalo — and has identified with them ever since. They understand her rumbles, and she in turn seems to understand them. The relationship that Nzou has with the buffalo is not an easy one. Buffalo have a patriarchal social structure, and over the 40+ years that Nzou has been in charge, she has killed 14 young male buffalo who challenged her leadership. After several attempts over the years to encourage her to become part of the elephant herd, conservancy managers decided that her rightful place should be back with the buffalo, and there is where she has remained ever since. Nzou has never lost her elephant’s instinct for loyalty. One of her handlers was one day charged by one of the young male buffalo and badly gored. Nzou stood over him as he waited for help to arrive, guarding him against further attacks from the buffalo. Nzou no longer communicates with the other elephants at Imire. Perhaps she has forgotten how and no longer understands what they're saying. She's happy with her unusual herd, and as long as they don’t step out of line, she's happy and content to be their matriarch.
