In Memoriam

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick died April 12, 2018 at age 83. She and her husband, David, dedicated their lives to the care and protection of Africa’s wildlife. After her husband’s death, she founded The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which runs an orphanage, rescue and rehabilitation center primarily for orphaned elephants and rhinos in Kenya. Daphne was the first person to successfully hand raise new-born elephants. but it took her 28 years of trial and error to develop the special milk formula to bottle feed baby elephants, making their survival possible. For more about Daphne’s remarkable life, read this week’s blog, A friend to all wild things.

In honor of Dame Sheldrick, Big Five has fostered eight elephants, two rhinos and a giraffe. Meet these adoptees and click on the links to read their stories.

ENKESHA
Female elephant, one year old. February 18, 2016 found at Mara Triangle in the Masai Mara. Found with a snare almost severing her trunk. Cause: Poaching. For her complete profile and a video of her rescue see: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=369

SHUKURU
Female elephant, three days old. September 2009 at Tsavo West on the Mzima Springs Pipeline 3 days old Rescued by a herdsman after falling down a manhole on the Mzima – Mombasa Pipeline. Cause: Man-Made Cause for Separation. For her complete profile see: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=226

MBEGU
Female elephant, about seven weeks old. March 2014 at Naibunga Conservancy – Ol Lentille. The calf had been left behind when her herd stampeded following the shooting of an elephant by KWS after it had killed a woman in the community. Cause: Panic Separation/Stampede. For her complete profile see: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=314

MURIT
Male elephant, seven weeks old. May 2014 at Namunyak Conservancy – Samburu. Found stuck down a well. Cause: Well Victim. For a complete profile and a video of her rescue see: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=318

LASAYEN
Male elephant, one month old. August 2014 at Namunyak Conservancy – Northern Kenya. Found fallen down a community dug well. Cause: Well Victim. For a complete profile and a video of his rescue see: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=328

NDOTTO
Male elephant, two days old. August 2014 in Ndoto Mountains. Found confused and alone in a throng of sheep and goats. Cause: Reason Unknown. For a complete profile and a video of his rescue see: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=330

NGILAI
Male elephant, three weeks old. February 2015 at Molore Lorach, Ngilai area. Found stuck in a well by community members who came to the well to water their livestock. Cause: Well Victim. For a complete profile and a video of his rescue see: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=339

GODOMA
Female elephant, 5 to 5 months old. February 2015 at Taita Hills Sanctuary. Found bruised and battered in a well by Conservancy Scouts from the Taita Hills Sanctuary. Cause: Well Victim. For a complete profile and a video of his rescue see: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=340

SOLIO
Female black rhino, six months old. April 2010 Solio Ranch. She was found standing by her injured mother whose shattered shoulder prevented her from standing and she could no longer protect her calf. Cause: Poaching. For a complete profile see: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=235&Rhino=1

MAXWELL
Male black rhino, one year old. February 2006 in Nairobi National Park. He was blind and running around aimlessly. There was no sign of his mother. Cause: Natural Causes. For a complete profile see: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=169&Rhino=1

KIKO
Male giraffe, one week old. September 2015 in Meru National Park boundary. Found alone without his mother or other giraffes nearby. The fate of his mother is unknown. Cause: unknown. For a complete profile see: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=341

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