Feeding Orphan Elephants

Vital Milk for Baby Elephants

Through our Elephant Conservation Collections, we’re able to raise vital funds to purchase milk for dependent elephants in the care of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, supporting their Orphans’ Project.

To date, the SWT has successfully raised more than 282 orphans who have lost their mothers against the threats of poaching, habitat loss, and climate change. As part of their rehabilitation, the baby elephants get hand fed by keepers every 3 hours, day and night. This milk is essential to the survival of these orphans so that one day they can be reintegrated back into the wild.

“I’m so proud that we’re able to support the wonderful Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in their mission to secure a future for these beautiful creatures. As always, thank you for your support, I feel so blessed to be part of this wonderful community, with wildlife conservation at its very heart.”

Meet the Orphans

Vaarti

Vaarti had an unexpected introduction to the Sheldrick Trust is 2019, when a wild female elephant strode up to the stockades with a newborn calf in tow. To the Keepers' surprise, the unknown female was far too young to be the calf’s mother and unable to produce milk. It was very clear from his thin and gaunt appearance that he had not had milk for several days - a suspicion confirmed by his attempt to nurse a group of bulls at a nearby trough. Returning to bush and leaving the little ele with the Keepers, it was clear that this brave female came to the stockades with the intention of delivering the calf into safe hands. Today, Vaarti or ‘luck’ in the language of the local Kamba tribe, is a ray of sunshine in elephant form, bringing joy to everyone in his orbit. Learn more

Bondeni

Just 3 years old, little Bondeni has journeyed far for an ele so young. His story with the SWT began when he was just a newborn, found wandering into a village with his feet covered in lacerations from jagged lava slopes. With no elephant herds sighted in the vicinity, how he ended up alone on such precarious terrain remains unknown…
Rescued by KWS rangers and the Sheldrick aerial team, he is now safely located at the SWT Nursery in Nairobi. Here he will continue to find his footing and, when he is ready, continue his journey back to the wild at a Reintegration Unit in Tsavo. Until that time, spoiled little Bondeni will continue to flourish among the fellow orphans and Keepers who he already considers family. Learn more




To read more about the amazing Orphans’ Project & learn more about the Sheldrick Trust’s mission you can visit here: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org