Our matriarch is symbolic of the mother each of the orphan elephants, in the care of the Sheldrick Trust, lost when they became orphaned. She represents our Keepers, our team and you, our wider family, who help to give these elephants a second chance at life. Her tusks are blue to draw attention to the issues of elephant endangerment.

Rescued from the slopes of Mount Kenya, like other elephants from the area, this calf was covered in a protective blanket of dark fuzzy hair all over her body. She is a suspected orphan of human-wildlife conflict.

Malkia’s mother was a well-known elephant who succumbed to the effects of old age, exacerbated by drought. In rescuing her milk dependent calf, Malkia was given a second chance at life.

An orphan from the Amboseli area, rescuers were unable to reunite this lone three month elephant with his herd. He joined the Trust’s orphan herd and is now living at one of the SWT’s reintegration Units.

Vets were unable to save Barsilinga’s mother who was fatally injured by poachers. They brought her week old baby into the safe-keeping of the Trust, where he has grown up.

Without her mother’s milk, this little six-month-old orphaned elephant would have surely died. Rescuers flew her directly to the Trust’s Nursery in a helicopter where a warm stable and a bottle of milk awaited her.

A true survivor, Tamiyoi survived a spell down a well before her rescue. After suffering months of ill-health, she turned a corner and is now thriving in the Trust’s care.

Barely able to walk after he was shot in the legs, vets determined the only way to save his life was a rescue and immediate, intensive care at the SWT Nairobi Nursery. Tragically, Luggard succumbed to his ailments and died on 11th May 2021 - he is forever in our hearts.

An orphan of human wildlife conflict, Mbegu was severely injured after she was attacked by humans. Thriving in the Trust’s care, she is a deeply maternal and loves to mollycoddle the younger orphans.

A victim of the climate crisis, Maisha was found collapsed during a prolonged drought. She likely she became separated from her herd when she became too weak to keep up with the search for food and water. Tragically, Maisha died on 26th June 2021 after a short battle with a mystery illness - she will always be remembered.

Enkesha nearly lost her trunk in a poacher’s snare. Emergency veterinary treatment saved her trunk and her life and she’s now being cared for at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Umani Springs Reintegration Unit.

Sattao is an orphan who was found alone in 2017, covered in bite marks from a predator attack and dreadfully thin. He was only three months old at the time. He is now safe and has made a full recovery.

Ndotto was rescued by helicopter from the Ndoto Mountains when he was found following a herd of livestock. At the time of rescue, his umbilical cord was still fresh meaning he was only a new born.

Swahili for heat, Jotto was found stuck in a well during the hottest month of the year. He would have surely died had he not been found by local herdsmen and brought to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

An innocent victim of poaching, Mwashoti was maimed by a snare which all but severed his leg. He made a miraculous recovery and is now living at the Umani Springs Reintegration Unit.

Ngilai had a tough start to life when he was found at the bottom of a well. He needed an immediate lifesaving drip and treatment for exhaustion, while Keepers tended to his cuts and scrapes.

Maktao is a suspected orphan of human-wildlife conflict. He was starving and terribly dehydrated when he arrived at the Nursery, hungry for milk and fluids. When he’s older, he will return to the wild.

Named after the Musiara swamp where he was found close to death, Musiara was so weak he collapsed several times at the Nursery and it was many days before his strength began to return.

Mukkoka owes his life to one of our routine aerial patrols. His tiny footprints were spotted among hundreds of animal tracks by rangers who identified them as belonging to a lone baby elephant.

Kiombo’s sunken cheeks were a clear sign to rescuers this baby elephant had been without his mother for some time. He settled into the Nursery seamlessly, as if understanding he had found a new family.

A victim of the worsening climate crisis, Emoli was found alone, weak and starving along the Voi River. It is likely his mother died after becoming too weak to find food during a prolonged drought at the time.