Raising Kenya’s orphaned elephants

posted 23rd November 2019 by Danica Wilson in Conservation and Charity

Encompass Africa’s conservation objectives and efforts saw us adopt our very own orphaned Kenyan elephant named Galla a few years ago.  Galla is now a 4 year old boy. He was found 2 years ago wandering around on his own with no sign of family.  The Kenya Wildlife rangers were able to save him and take him to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. 

To read about Galla and the rescue, click here.  Thanks to Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E and the team at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for your passion and commitment to protecting Kenya’s elephants.

If you are interested in Kenya’s elephants, read more below.

The trust successfully runs an orphan elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation programme. Founded in 1977 by Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.R.E in honour of her late husband David. The Sheldrick family has deep roots in Kenya wildlife conservation. The trust is now run by their daughter Angela along with a dedicated team of carers work 24/7 to ensure the little elephants have constant care.

The project was established to rescue orphaned elephants and rhino plus any other young animals whose existence is threatened in the wild.  This commitment has grown from the increased threat of poaching for ivory, horn and bush meat. Some 150 Elephants have been successfully reintegrated back into the wild thanks to the efforts of this committed team!

Read here about the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.

Key Facts

  • The family unit is essential for the development of young elephants
  • The trust employs loyal Keepers, who make the commitment to be the loving family the elephant will need to survive
  • The ‘family’ look after the elephants until they each start to become independent
  • The elephants are then slowly introduced into the wild, often with previous orphans who have been successfully integrated into herds acting as their ‘guardians’
  • Once the elephant is fully confident to go their own way, they are released into the Tsavo East National Park and monitored to ensure their survival and safety
  • These elephants are known to return to the “nursery’ to visit their keepers, show off their own little babies and assist with the new little orphans

To find out how you could foster a Kenya elephant and contribute to wildlife conservation click here.

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