Sponsorships Elephants

Emily is believed to have been born in September 1993 in Tsavo West National Park. She was just a month old when her family came from Tsavo West to Tsavo East, passing Manyani Prison Camp. The tiny calf fell into a disused pit latrine. The herd rumbled around helplessly, confused and traumatized, attracting rangers from the nearby Manyani entrance gate to the park.

Emily was our first Sofa sponsorship. She has long since been released into the wild and has her own family, with two daughters Eve and Emma, ​​born in the wild.

Imenti was born in January 1994, found on Mount Kenya, just a few hours old. He is now a brave boy, full of vitality. A close friend of Emily’s from his days in Nairobi and her protector for a long time, Imenti lives with a few keepers in the north of Tsavo East. No tourists are allowed there.

Madiba was rescued in Botswana, found in a riverbed with a deep head wound. He was only a few days old and confused. He could only walk in circles and was abandoned by his elephant family, who had apparently given up hope of his survival. Madiba now lives happily in the wild.

This little bull was stuck in the mud of the Satao Camp waterhole at a place called Mukwaju in Tsavo East National Park. He was probably born around September 11, 1999. He was about 3 weeks old and orphaned when he was rescued. The memory of being stuck still makes Mukwaju hesitate in front of mud holes – even in the hottest heat. He is now an adult bull, free in Tsavo East National Park.

Oltaiyoni was born in April 2013. She was about six months old when she wandered around alone near the lodge and was then taken in. It is unknown what happened to her and her family. She is now in the Ithumba Reintegration Unit and is being lovingly prepared for release into the wild.

Sweet Sally was tragically abandoned by her mother when she was six months old. Unfortunately, her mother was traumatized during the relocation from Sweetwaters to Mount Meru and no longer cared for her baby. Sally was taken in at six months old and raised alongside three other elephant orphans. She now has an adventurous son of her own named Safi.

Kuishi was born in February 2016. She was spotted from the plane, standing alone next to her late mom. After a long drought it had finally rained, but probably too late for mom. Today Kuishi lives with Oltaiyoni in the Ithumba Reintegration Unit.

Musiara was born in early December 2016. He was seen by a film crew from an airplane following a wild herd, but apparently without any connection to a mother animal. Musiara was very small and weak and no one really believed in his survival. But he holds on bravely and is slowly being prepared for a free life.

Kiasa, our baby, was born in April 2017. She was found with two bulls when she was about 6 months old and still dependent on her mother’s milk. No one knows what happened to her mom. Today she is lively and likes to spray mud on her visitors for fun.

Karisa was born in October 2014. He was around 2 years old when he was found next to his mother. The mother was fatally injured by gunshot wounds from poachers. Karisa remained brave and protected his mother until her death. Today he is part of an elephant family in the wild.

Naboishu is one of our new additions. When the veterinary department of SWT/KWS Mara was asked to investigate the sudden death of the mother elephant “Namunyak”, they found her young calf in the company of her herd. The little calf couldn’t survive alone among men, but now he is part of a happy elephant family. He’s a little ne’er-do-well, always looking for the next orphan to play with.

During a routine air patrol over Taita Ranch, a Wildlife Works pilot spotted a young elephant calf still dependent on milk. Pika Pika was accompanied by five adult bulls. Without a mother elephant to breastfeed, she had to be rescued. Now she is being carefully released back into the wild.

The shy Suguroi owes her current existence to three strokes of luck. Visitors to Laikipia spontaneously changed their flight course and discovered a deceased mother elephant. Experienced pilot Andy Payne immediately recognized with his trained eye that the dense undergrowth needed to be examined more closely – and thus found the hidden baby elephant, Suguroi.

Taabu means “trouble” in Swahili, appropriate for the time of his orphanhood, not his cheerful character. He is one of the lucky few who escaped the dry season. Taabu is smart and sociable, close to his neighbor Naleku. He loves exploring the forest, making new friends and looking for milk.

Lima Lima was rescued as a one-year-old orphan. Displaced by poaching, battered by trauma and eating poisonous prickly pear plants, Lima Lima was lovingly welcomed by the 20 resident nursery elephants in the forest of Nairobi National Park. Today she has her strength back and is a strong, happy elephant cow of over 20 years.

Latika, a young elephant girl, survived the dry season and a poacher’s trap in Tsavo East National Park. She was rescued at just 18 months old, orphaned and with a wire noose around her neck. After careful treatment of her wounds in Nairobi, she shows remarkable resilience.

Nyambeni, a young elephant girl, owes her life to a brave man who rescued her from a muddy pit in Meru. Separated from her herd during their night journey, she was left behind and found crying for help. Despite the stress of teething, Nyambeni thrived, forming a strong bond with another orphan, Mzinga. Now in the Nursery, she is playful and curious, always eager for new adventures.