Sulwe was born on Christmas Day to ex-orphan Sonje and a besotted bull named Osama. Now she's growing wild in the same Umani forest where her mum's "honeymoon" played out.
The full story is worth a read.
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
The milk that keeps Kaikai alive took our founder Dame Daphne Sheldrick decades of trial, loss, and learning to perfect. Kaikai arrived at Kaluku barely weeks old. Every bottle since has been mixed based on what Daphne learned. Every three hours. Around the clock.
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
Face à une surpêche toujours élevée, les scientifiques recommandent de baisser les captures
Ten years ago, a snared bull limped into our lives. We nicknamed him Lazarus. After treatment by our Sky Vets, he came to see Ithumba as a safe place — and kept coming back. Earlier this week, he returned standing strong on all four feet. www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
Muridjo abandoned her mini matriarch duties this morning to tear through the forest — ears, tail, and trunk aloft, trumpeting for no discernible reason. She even recruited the usually sensible Taroha. No explanation. Just Muridjo being Muridjo.
Read her story: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
Twenty-five years ago, Nasalot was a traumatised poaching orphan who would only sleep during daylight. Today, she's a mother of three living wild – here with newborn Nala – and look who's in tow. That's Naleku, our Mara rescue from 2020, taking on babysitting duties with: swt.bio/nasalot
Look who showed up at Voi: 26-year-old Laikipia, now a hugely impressive wild bull.
He's never forgotten home. The orphans rumbled greetings from their beds. He stayed for a drink, then disappeared into the night.
His story: swt.bio/laikipia
Meet Arthi – our resident alarm clock.
When Keepers were five minutes late opening the gates, this young bull trumpeted until someone got the message. He's also tried sneaking early to the mud bath for milk – and sulked under a tree when it didn't work.
Adopt Arthi: swt.bio/arthi
Today, Lenny was the star of the mud bath, twirling his tiny trunk. A sedate session compared to the other day – when a crocodile darted into the water and Mwana screamed.
Everyone came running. Murera charged. Sonje's team rushed from the hills. The croc didn't stand a chance.
Days old. Swept away in a flash flood. Our Keepers became the only family she'd ever known.
Lemeki graduated to Voi in 2022. Now she's learning to lead as a mini-matriarch – and one day, she'll start a wild family of her own.
You make journeys like hers possible.
sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/n...
Enkesha found herself a suitor – a wild bull who followed her through the forest. She's still young for romance, but he was persistent.
Little Lenny wasn't having it. He stepped up to face the giant, determined to protect his nanny.
The bull gave up. Lenny won.
sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o...
A snapshot of scenes from our Nursery of late... Tell us, which is your favourite and why?
- Trunk hugs galore with Taroha and Wamata and Kerrio (who just graduated!)
- Mud mayhem with Mzinga
- Little leader Arthi shows the way to bush school
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
We’ve welcomed a quintet of tiny trunks into the world since the start of December – and little Kiki is one of them.
Her mother, Kihari, was rescued as an orphan of poaching in 2011. Now she’s raising the next wild generation. Each wild-born baby is a victory for conservation.
Rescued at just one week old after her mother died in the Mara, our pint-sized princess Kaikai has been running the show ever since.
Try to lead her somewhere she doesn't want to go? She'll do an about-turn and take everyone in a new direction.
Adopt our pint-sized princess.
swt.bio/kaikai
Forget searching under the tree - the orphaned elephants know the best Christmas surprises are hidden in Keeper pockets! Snacks, cuddles, and the promise of a second chance. Merry Christmas from our herd to yours.
From Kenya to wherever you find yourself today, we want to thank you for your unwavering support and - with the help of our Keepers and some of their little charges - to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
A day in the life of an infant orphan elephant is filled with milk bottles, cuddles, mudbaths and games. Why? Because decades of raising elephants has revealed an orphan's psychological health is as important as their physical needs.
Learn how we raise these babies: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/n...
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even… an elephant! Thanks to our supporters, Kenya’s orphaned elephants always have a place to call home. We want to thank you for supporting our conservation work – this year and always.
Wild-born calves Zigi and Lenny are already practising their wrestling moves. Sulwe, the only girl in the pileup, holds her own – never far from the action. They're only here because we rescued their mothers, orphans themselves, many years ago. Meet our grandcalves:
sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o...
Kipekee arrived at our Nairobi Nursery as a fragile newborn. Today, this tiny-but-mighty girl knows she has everyone wrapped around her little trunk – and wouldn't have it any other way.
Gift her adoption and help give Kipekee the family and wild future she deserves: swt.bio/kipekee
Two years ago, a one-day-old rhino was found alone in Tsavo. His mother never appeared.
Today, Chamboi is a healthy two-year-old. Black rhinos are critically endangered, and he has years ahead before he can reclaim his place in the wild. Until then, he has us – and you: swt.bio/chamboi
At our Kaluku Neonate Nursery, you'll find Izera the eland and Choke the lesser kudu browsing alongside unlikely stablemates: Mr Bean the warthog, Bibi and Gruff the buffaloes, Bombi the zebra – all under the watchful eye of Twiggy the giraffe.
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
Kaikai and Keeper Joseph were walking in November when she stopped, lifted her tiny trunk, and smelled the wind – turning her head to and fro. Sure enough, Joseph heard wild elephants moving, just out of sight. She's only months old. But already, she's looking out for her family: set.bio/kaikai
Water tanks, hospital support, and field trips bringing children face to face with the wildlife on their doorstep. This is how we are changing attitudes and building future wildlife guardians, one child at a time, through your support: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
Orphaned elephants grieve just like we do. When two-month-old Kaikai lost her mother, she paced through the nights, calling out. But with love, traumatised babies can pull through. Once Kaikai realized Keepers like Mishak would always be there, she began to turn the page: swt.bio/kaikai
Every time we rescue an orphan, we think of what the future can hold. 19 years ago, little Loijuk’s life nearly ended just as it was beginning, but some compassionate people changed the course of her history. And now, because of that life saved, Loijuk leads a whole new generation in the wild.
We are endlessly grateful to every one of our supporters who help us provide the first-class care orphaned elephants need to survive, thrive, and ultimately return to their rightful home in the wild.
Are you one of our adopters? We’d love to know – who do you adopt?
Panya means ‘mouse’ in Swahili. It’s also the name of our newest grandbaby! Hours after giving birth, ex-orphan Panda returned home to introduce her daughter to the people who raised her. In fact, it was a real family reunion: We had 54 orphans, ex-orphans, and wild-born babies in attendance.
While we're best known for our work with elephants, our Orphans' Project extends to all manner of species. This is especially true at our Kaluku Neonate Nursery in Tsavo, where an unlikely family has taken shape.
Meet our Kaluku herd: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
Little Zigi turns eight months old this month. Surrounded by adoring nannies and watched over by Keepers, he's doing wonderfully – as is his mother, Zongoloni, who has embraced motherhood after her own traumatic start as a poaching orphan.
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...
