A home for baby elephants

Dame Daphne Sheldrick is a phenomenal woman that was born and raised in Kenya. Author of An African Love Story, she is known by many worldwide. After being immersed with wildlife and insuring the rehabilitation of the animals back into the wild; her will, passion, empathy and sheer determinism made her an a well known, worldwide leading figure. She was named one of “35 people worldwide [to] have made a difference in terms of animal husbandry and wildlife conservation”. In 2006 she was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

Since 1977 she set up an orphanage for baby elephants that were orphaned as a result of their parents dying from natural reasons, victims of poaching or in some case the baby being born with a slight disability which resulted in the rest of the heard abandoning it. Whatever the case may be, Daphne Sheldricks created a home for these babies to help them recuperate and grow strong so they can eventually be released into the wild. With the current escalating poaching crisis, the babies are more often than not a result of their parents being poached. Currently the youngest being housed is 3.5 months and the oldest is 4 years old who is near the end of her term at the orphanage.

The orphanage borders onto Nairobi National Park, which although is not a home for any of Kenya’s elephants; the babies are taken for guided walks with their keepers to ensure they are still out in the wild. When the elephants are old enough (which is around 4 years old), they are released back into the wild in Tsavo National Park.

To ensure that the elephants do not get too familiar and trusting with humans, there are certain regulations that are in place. Each elephant or every two elephants has one keeper who feeds them and sleeps with them in their rooms. This means that the babies only get used to one person. Although twice a day the orphanage is open to the public; they only get a limited amount of time in close quarters with them. The orphanage offers a sponsorship programme whereby a baby can be adopted for a minimum of $50 a year with added donations being appreciated. This money goes towards their milk. By sponsoring a baby, you receive an update once a month of how your elephant is doing, who is new to the orphanage and just a general information letter about the rest of the naughty toddlers.

Alongside the elephants at the orphanage they also care for a couple of a rhinos. The oldest they have there is 7 years old. He has not been released into the wild and never will be because he is genetically blind. Although an operation on him was attempted, it failed because of his genetic makeup. The other rhino they have is much younger and is a brave, feisty girl who is determined to get out into the wild. Although she is still formally looked after at the orphanage, they let her come and go as she pleases as she is building up her confidence. This ‘little’ rhino is very naughty and if she is seen during the public viewing times, it is highly recommended that you move out of her way- a rhino is a creature not to be messed with!