David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
On March 17th, Samburu scouts in Kenya located a lone male baby elephant. The elephant had no tail, as it was bitten by heyens. He was clearly an orphan, who would die without milk, shelter, and water. With no chance of finding his natural family (who was likely killed by poachers), how could the baby survive?
Enter the rescue team from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. These amazing people rescue orphaned animals throughout Kenya and nurse them back to health. The center is unique in the way that they hand-raise the animals. Elephants are taken care of by a team of dedicated keepers, who attend to their needs. They live together, creating a ‘family’, not unlike the one the elephants lost. The youngest elephant living in the center during my visit was 4 weeks old.
What makes the center particularly interesting is that visitors to the center have the opportunity to meet the elephants. For one hour a day, visitors can watch a feeding of the elephants. This is a really special opportunity, as the elephants are particularly playful animals. It is amazing to watch the orphans play, eat, and interact with each other and the keepers. On my visit to the center one of the elephants came very close to the crowd. I had the opportunity to touch his back. He felt surprisingly greasy, which is a stark contrast to their dry-looking skin. The visit truly was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Please take the time to learn more about the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. My visit to their center was one of the highlights of my trip to Kenya. If I ever have the chance to return to Nairobi my first stop will be to return to see the beautiful orphans and their dedicated keepers.
Visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust at http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphans.asp
On March 17th, Samburu scouts in Kenya located a lone male baby elephant. The elephant had no tail, as it was bitten by heyens. He was clearly an orphan, who would die without milk, shelter, and water. With no chance of finding his natural family (who was likely killed by poachers), how could the baby survive?
Enter the rescue team from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. These amazing people rescue orphaned animals throughout Kenya and nurse them back to health. The center is unique in the way that they hand-raise the animals. Elephants are taken care of by a team of dedicated keepers, who attend to their needs. They live together, creating a ‘family’, not unlike the one the elephants lost. The youngest elephant living in the center during my visit was 4 weeks old.
What makes the center particularly interesting is that visitors to the center have the opportunity to meet the elephants. For one hour a day, visitors can watch a feeding of the elephants. This is a really special opportunity, as the elephants are particularly playful animals. It is amazing to watch the orphans play, eat, and interact with each other and the keepers. On my visit to the center one of the elephants came very close to the crowd. I had the opportunity to touch his back. He felt surprisingly greasy, which is a stark contrast to their dry-looking skin. The visit truly was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Please take the time to learn more about the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. My visit to their center was one of the highlights of my trip to Kenya. If I ever have the chance to return to Nairobi my first stop will be to return to see the beautiful orphans and their dedicated keepers.
Visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust at http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphans.asp