Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, The Sheldrick animals Trust endorses any initiatives that enhance the conservation, preservation, and protection of animals. It is among the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation programs globally, also caring for orphans of other species, such as rhinos, aiding anti-poaching initiatives, campaigning against the ivory trade, and offering medical care to injured wildlife.
Young elephants may become orphaned due to several situations, including the death of their parents from poaching, sickness, or drought. Occasionally, they are isolated from their groups due to predators or human strife. The orphanage for baby elephants located at the periphery of Nairobi National Park is the inaugural facility to effectively hand-rear and rehabilitate juvenile elephants. Upon achieving psychological and physical recovery, typically by the age of two, the orphans are prepared for the subsequent stage of their rehabilitation at Ithumba in Tsavo National Park. Further information regarding this approach is available on our blog.
The Nairobi orphanage has three daily visiting time slots, and we advise arranging in advance to maximize your time with the orphans.
11 AM: Public feeding session and mud bath featuring a presentation by the head keeper, along with an opportunity to observe the elephants’ playful interactions (admission donation $20 per person + Nairobi National Park fees).
3 PM: A private feeding session and mud bath only for one group of guests, allowing interaction with the orphans (contribution $600-800 based on party size, in addition to Nairobi National Park fees).
Rearing an Elephant
The Orphan’s Project is sustained by contributions from individuals and organizations, especially funding from the Trust’s Fostering Programme. One can sponsor a newborn elephant for oneself or as a gift for an annual fee of $50. Choose ‘your elephant’ online and obtain monthly updates and illustrations.
History of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Founded 44 years ago in 1977, the Sheldrick Trust is a non-profit organization that operates one of the most effective elephant conservation and rehabilitation programs worldwide, having raised 263 elephants. Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick established the orphanage in honor of her husband, David Sheldrick, who dedicated his life to the preservation of nature and wildlife. He was a creator of Tsavo National Park and created a milk formula for infant elephants and rhinoceroses.
The sanctuary nurtures the elephants until they are weaned from milk need and progressively reintroduces them into the wild in Tsavo National Park. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s operations encompass various National Parks in Kenya, including the Greater Tsavo Conservation Area, Meru National Park, and Mau Forest. The organization’s vital objective is to eradicate poaching, a significant threat to these animals in their natural habitat.
By employing aerial technology to protect ecosystems and enhancing societal awareness of the associated dangers, SWT effectively mitigates the threats faced by these creatures. The foundation offers urgent veterinary care to individuals injured by poachers.