Directly translated, this word means ‘Old Foot’. Oupoot is a very popular term that is used by locals to refer to an elephant.

It was made popular by the book “Circles in the Forest” by Dalene Matthee.

In her book, Oupoot (an elephant bull) symbolizes the wild, untamed spirit of the Knysna forest and represents the natural world that the book’s protagonist seeks to protect.

Oupoot becomes a symbol of resistance against the destructive forces of human encroachment and exploitation.

His presence in the forest serves as a reminder of the deep connection between the land and its inhabitants, both human and animal.

Oupoot was also the name given to the last female Knysna elephant in real life. The Knysna forest used to have hundreds of elephants, but their numbers dwindled as humans moved in. She was last spotted in 2018, although many have claimed to have seen her as recently as 2025. The Knysna elephant has been declared extinct.

An elephant is often drawn or painted with their tusks or their size as the focus point, but I wanted to capture the spirit of one. I want to give the viewer a chance to look into the eye of the giant and see the beauty of its soul. My elephant is inspired by the fictional as well as the true stories of ‘Oupoot’.