Orphaned at just a few days old, Toto’s story is one which shows the phenomenal bonds and intelligence of Elephants - and how much we can learn from these incredible creatures.
Toto was brought to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Nairobi nursery in April of 2022 by a herd of its former orphans. Discovering him alone and vulnerable, they must have realised the little calf was in desperate need of help, and brought him straight to a place of refuge and safety.
Weakened from a lack of milk at the most vulnerable stage of life, Toto had a rocky start. Sheldrick’s superheroes Joseph and Sammy immediately took the little calf under their wing, staying by his side day and night. At first Toto struggled to sleep in his stable, so his keepers dragged his mattress out - resting with him under the star-studded sky until he was lulled to sleep.
From fragile beginnings, soon Toto’s days were filled with coconut baths, naps in the shade and his favourite strolls along the airstrip. Nurtured under the constant care and attention of his keepers, the little calf grew in confidence and strength - quickly becoming one of the most playful personalities in the nursery!
A year on from his arrival at Sheldrick, Toto was ready to graduate into the Kaluku herd - and has even gained an adopted little "sister". With his whole life ahead of him and the Sheldrick’s network of sibling orphans to guide him, he’s now well on his journey to be re-introduced to the wild.
A tale of compassion, hope and joy, stories like Toto’s are the inspiration behind our Elephant Conservation Collection, which works with the Sheldrick Trust to help secure a safe future for these precious creatures. Every accessory sold = the equivalent of 1 bottle of milk donated to an orphan elephant, aiding their journey from rescue to rehabilitation.* Shop the collection here.
To learn more about the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, please visit sheldrickwildlifetrust.org.
*Every accessory purchased from this collection generates a donation to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust equal to at least 1 bottle(s) of milk for an orphaned baby elephant. Each year, these donations fund the operations of the SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit, treating injured wildlife in the Maasai Mara. Any surplus funds generated will be given to the SWT to provide milk for the orphan elephants in their care, and to support their wider conservation initiatives to protect wildlife throughout Kenya.
