Twiggy is one of just 35,000 Maasai giraffes, a sub-species threatened by habitat fragmentation & bushmeat poaching. Twiggy, however, is sitting pretty, secure in her surroundings. In honour of #WorldGiraffeDay, be part of her future through an adoption. Link in bio or visit sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/twiggy #giraffe #animals #animalrescue #sheldricktrust #nature #wildlife #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #protect #conservation
Baby Raha enjoying a walk in the forest with Keeper Sammy might seem innocuous, but it’s a truly incredible sight. We rescued Raha last year, after Ol Pejeta rangers discovered her orphaned and alone. She had serious injuries to her rear-end too, likely caused by jackals attacking her - she survived, but they got her tail. For months her condition was touch and go, however, she’s a survivor, and we were also never going to give up on her. Our little tortoise, as she’s affectionately known, operates at her own pace as she bumbles around the Nairobi Nursery. You can read her full story, support her care, & enjoy monthly updates on her progress, by adopting Raha on our website sheldrickwildlifetrust.org (link in bio) #rhino #animals #animalrescue #sheldricktrust #nature #wildlife #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #conservation #blackrhino #babyrhino #babyanimals #tortoise
Mwana is quite the little athlete! Before retiring for the night, she evokes her inner Messi and plays a game of ‘milk bottle football’ with Sora! He’s one of the Keepers who raised her mother, Murera, and helped support Mwana when mum initially struggled to nurse her newborn - something she mastered on the 11th day. Over the years, we’ve met 55 calves born to orphaned elephants we rescued, raised, and reintegrated back into the wild. However, none quite like Mwana. Her mother came to us with grievous, human-inflicted injuries that will affect her for the rest of her life. For this reason, Murera prefers to remain close to home, leaning on her Keepers for the support and security that help her thrive. While she and Mwana spend their days roaming freely, Murera chooses to return to her stockade each night, knowing it protects them from any boisterous antics that might put her and her daughter at risk. If you would like to learn more about Mwana and Murera’s story, visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/murera #elephants #babyelephant #wildlife #animals #football #Soccer #SheldrickTrust #SWT #family #MureraSWT #MwanaSWT #miracle #herd #sheldrickwildlifetrust #messi
Framed by the setting sun, a bull elephant rises to his feet after a successful field veterinary treatment. SWT/KWS Vet Units have attended to 3,343 elephant cases. This is one of their most recent patients — in fact, he was one of two bulls successfully treated on this particular evening. He had a bullet wound to his leg, but thanks to timely intervention, he’s expected to make a full recovery. Learn more about our lifesaving veterinary initiative at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org #elephant #veterinary #wildlife #animals #nature #animalrescue #treatment #sheldrickwildlifetrust #kenya #sheldricktrust
Forget a bedtime story or having a bath. When it comes to the orphaned elephant’s night time routine, it’s all about a bottle of fresh milk ‘washed down’ with some hand-cut greens. It’s an approach which ensures blanket-clad babies like Mokogodo sleep soundly, once they’ve finished saying goodnight. Discover her story, and those of the other rescued elephants, rhinos, and giraffe in our care at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org (link in bio) #elephant #bedtime #blanket #animals #nature #wildlife #kenya #animalrescue #sheldrickwildlife #sheldrickwildlifetrust #babyelephant
From belly to bottom, Yebo is treating himself to a full body scratch. This tiny baby is our first ‘Ithumba great grandbaby’. His mother is Yetu, the firstborn daughter of Yatta, an orphan we rescued, raised & returned to the wild. Unlike Yatta who was raised by humans, Yetu has only ever known a wild life and her son Yebo will enjoy this same wild upbringing. We rescued Yatta in 1999, after she’d been orphaned due to poaching! She went in to become the matriarch of our Ithumba Unit, and since going wild has been a mum three times over. Her story reminds us that in saving one life, we can support future generations. Read more about Yatta, & her family at remarkable sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/yatta #elephant #animals #nature #wildlife #animalrescue #kenya #sheldrickwildlife #babyelephant #sheldrickwildlifetrust #hope #family #elephants #scratch
It’s a coconut oil spa day for the orphan baby elephants at our Kaluku Neonate Unit! This pampering ritual not only helps to keep each orphan’s skin hydrated & supple, it also affords our Keepers and their tiny charges some incredibly sweet bonding time. You can meet the elephants in our care at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org #elephant #animals #animalrescue #spaday #wildlife #nature #kenya #elephants #sheldrickwildlife #coconut #coconutoil #hydrated #hydratedskin #bonding #sheldrickwildlifetrust
World Elephant Day kisses from our newest baby in blue — Taroha! We have been waiting quite some time to share this special elephant’s tale. Taroha’s rescue in March, when KWS rangers spotted a lone, year-old, elephant calf close to Lake Jipe in Tsavo West National Park. He was still milk-dependent and far too young to be without his mother. At first, we were cautiously optimistic about Taroha. But then, he took a worrying dip. His condition crashed and his ears curled in, which is always a telltale sign of poor health. Still we forged on, taking the victories and setbacks in equal measure. It was during this time that a very special friendship was cemented in Taroha’s life. Because of his fragile state, he was partnered up with tiny Mokogodo, the youngest orphan elephant at the Nursery. Clad in their matching blue blankets, they became an unlikely couple and an inseparable pair. Where Mokogodo is feisty and definitive, Taroha is calm and easy-going. She is the ringleader, he is happy to be led. We have no doubt that this friendship helped pull Taroha through his darkest times. What better time to introduce Taroha than #WorldElephantDay, a day dedicated to securing a future for our planet’s largest animals! This is just the beginning of Taroha’s story — one that, all well, will continue to unfold for many, many decades to come. You can celebrate #WorldElephantDay and become part of Taroha’s by adopting him. To learn more, visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/taroha (link in bio) #elephants #babyelephant #blanket #animals #wildlife #animalrescue #sheldrickwildlife #nairobi #kenya #tsavo #lakejipe #nature #wild #sheldrickwildlifetrust
Big news from the Nursery recently: Raha is now eating solids! This is a wonderful development in her recovery, which will see her really start to put on weight and get a bit more bulky. Raha is a very special black rhino – a critically endangered species – who was rescued in September of last year. Predators (likely jackals) had attacked her, leaving her with extensive internal and external injuries to her rear end. Emergency veterinary intervention rebuilt her nether regions, but the healing process has come with inevitable digestive challenges. We had to tread very carefully with her diet, and understandably, Raha was reluctant to eat solids. So Raha’s newly expanded diet is an excellent development. She has a voracious appetite and is now constantly munching away — sound up to hear for yourself! To learn more about Raha and to support her through an adoption, tap our link in bio or visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/raha #raha #rhinos #blackrhino #babyrhino #rhinorescue #animalrescue #animals #babyanimals #diet #kenya #nairobi #sheldricktrust #healing #veterinary #sheldrickwildlifetrust
We all fall down sometimes, but as Doldol reminds us, life’s for living. She wastes no time getting back on her little feet and running into the next adventure. Doldol is the tiniest elephant we have ever rescued. When our team first met her, they couldn’t believe their eyes. She was impossibly small, almost certainly born premature. Her mother must have been disturbed during birth and took off, leaving her baby behind. Doldol’s life could have ended just as it began, but she is a miniature miracle. To learn more about her incredible story, tap our link in bio or visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/doldol #SheldrickTrust #SWT #DoldolSWT #kenya #elephant #babyelephant #cute #funny #water #waterbaby #animals #wildlife #animalrescue #babyanimals #sheldrickwildlifetrust
Injured by a bullet, this elephant disappeared into thick bush. Our fixed-wing pilot located him - & in the process, discovered an arrowed elephant who needed treatment. Both were darted from the air & successfully treated by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Team that same afternoon! It seems guardian angels really do have wings (& propellers too!) #elephant #veterinary #animals #wildvet #nature #SheldrickTrust #kenya #SWT #helpanimals #vet #sheldrickwildlifetrust #arrow #bullet #treatment
Hungry hungry hippos. As the dry season begins to bite, this bloat of wild hippos - pod if you prefer - is feeling the pinch. With a few bales of lucerne of an evening, we are helping see them through the tough times! #hippo #hungry #hay #animals #wild #SheldrickTrust #kenya #nature #pod #bloat #thunder #sheldrickwildlifetrust
Just. A. Little. Bit. More. Mwinzi sucks his trunk to get every last droplet of milk. He doesn't have to wait long until the next serving; every 3 hours, we hand-feed orphans of his age bottles of freshly mixed formula milk - day & night - to ensure their nutritional needs are met. Milk is a much needed & appreciated gift that you can donate towards our project via our Wish List. Find out more at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/shop/wishlist (link in bio) #elephant #babyelephant #animals #wildlife #animalrescue #hungry #milk #SheldrickTrust #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #bottle #bottlefeeding
Mwana woke up full of beans this morning! She maybe the smallest member of the Umani herd, but this wild born calf rules the roost. Funny thing is, the Umani orphans are delighted to allow her to act like the boss - why not, she’s having fun. Find out more at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org (link in bio) #elephant #babyelephant #animals #wildlife #play #mornings #wild #goodmorning #kenya #mwana #sheldricktrust #nature #sheldrickwildlifetrust
All aboard the mud train! Big boy Manda took the memo rather literally, climbing on top of fellow bull Vaarti. At the bottom, Rokka who invited the boys to her game in the first place! This trio are rescued orphans, you can discover their stories & why they needed our help at: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans (link in bio) #elephant #babyelephant #animals #wildlife #play #mud #climbing #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #animalrescue #nature #games #SheldrickTrust
As the Umani Orphan herd arrive for their midday milk feed, a special member makes a dash for it! This little butter bean on legs is Mwana. She’s the daughter of orphan elephant Murera, one of the founding members of our Umani Reintegration Unit. Given her injuries prior to rescue, Murera needed a more gentle environment in which to go wild, so we built a new unit in Umani, nestled in the Kibwezi Forest. She’s thrived here, so much so that in March she became the first mother amongst the orphans here. Being the first baby, Mwana is spoiled by the other elephants, and she milks it for all it’s worth. She has wonderful nannies too, such as Enkesha and Zongoloni who she’s sprinting to join here. Visit our website to learn more about Mwana and her mum: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org #elephant #babyelephant #cute #wildborn #borntobewild #kenya #nature #forest #mwana #swt #sheldrickwildlifetrust #animals #SheldrickTrust #Running
Muridjo is a lovely elephant who adores many things; mischief, chaos, and causing a scene top the list. One thing she hates? Being babied! Although she was rescued at the tender age of ten months old — which put her firmly in our ‘blanket babies’ category — she has always spurned such a juvenile status, even flatly refusing to wear a blanket. (You can see a reminder of that here, in the form of a blanket thrown on the ground.) While Muridjo still sleeps in a cosy stable, as all the youngest orphans do, her rambunctious antics have earned her a move to the elder mud bath group. She’s happier and much better behaved when in the company of Tingai, Elerai, Weka, Ahmed, Sileita, and Rafiki — she does not dare to be cheeky towards them! To learn more about Muridjo’s rescue — and perhaps become part of her journey through an adoption — tap our link in bio or visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/muridjo #elephant #sheldricktrust #kenya #babyelephant #trunk #wildlife #animals #animalrescue #orphan #sheldrickwildlifetrust #greetinh
Ever the naughty toddler, Shujaa delights in antagonising his ‘little sisters,’ Mzinga and Nyambeni. Well, today he got a taste of his own medicine! The girls ganged up on him — Mzinga (left) went for a feet-forward assault, while Nyambeni (right) took a head-first approach. Even Weka, who can’t resist a bit of chaos, joined the fray. While he was definitely not the victor, Shujaa seemed to enjoy the baby elephant blitz! Every elephant seen here is a rescued orphan, who will grow up in our care until they are ready to reclaim their place in the wild. To meet Shujaa, Mzinga, Nyambeni, Weka, and the rest of our orphan herd — and to find out how you can support them through an adoption, as a gift for yourself or someone special — tap our link in bio or visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/ —— #SheldrickTrust #SWT #MzingaSWT #ShujaaSWT #NyambeniSWT #WekaSWT #elephant #kenya #adopt #Love #family #wildlife #nature #nairobi #sheldrickwildlifetrust #play
Taroha is going to sleep well tonight! (In fact, it looks like he’s already dreaming 🌙) To our delight, the much anticipated rains have arrived in Nairobi. The Nursery babies are less thrilled! While the pitter patter of raindrops lulls some to sleep, it sends many of our youngest orphans into a tizzy. Taroha, Mokogodo, and Talek are particularly vocal about their displeasure. Their shouting led to a cacophony of elephant chatter that lasted into the wee hours. Each little orphan is bunked up with a Keeper, who provides company and comfort throughout the night. On stormy nights, they help ease the tension for their little charges. To learn more about Taroha and become one of his first foster parents, tap our link in bio or visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/taroha —— #SWT #TarohaSWT #rescue #hope #elephant #dream #elephants #wild #goodnight #nature #sleeping #animals #animalrescue #sheldricktrust #conservation #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #babyelephant
As Murera gets her morning stretches in, her friend, carer, & extended family member Evans offers her his daily greetings. As a young calf, Murera stepped on poisoned spikes! She then took a tumble and forever damaged her leg. Orphaned, alone, and badly injured, she cut a dejected figure when we rescued her. Her future looked bleak, but where there is life there’s hope, and Murera had a will to live. She’s learned to live with her ailments, and they’ve perhaps made her stronger and more determined than she might have been. as a result. Today, she’s not only the matriarch of our Umani Springs Herd, she’s also its first mum. In March she gave birth to a beautiful little girl, named Mwana. You can discover Murera’s story, meet Mwana, and support their future at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/murera or tap link in bio #elephant #MureraSWT #kenya #animalrescue #sheldricktrust #rescue #SWT #hope #umani #wild #nature #animals #conservation #sheldrickwildlifetrust
