Trunk practice makes perfect! 🐘 Did you know that... elephant trunks have more than 40,000 muscles in them? 🤯 An elephant calf isn’t born with full function of its trunk but slowly learns how to use all those muscles over its first few months of life! While our little one is still exclusively drinking milk, she is already practicing how to use her trunk & copying the trunk movements of her mom and our other adult females! Elephants use their trunks for smelling, communicating, picking up food, holding water & more — so it’s an important skill for her to master over time! 🩶 📸: Keeper Gabbyshow more

Baby elephants get to their feet within minutes of... being born, but that doesn't mean they have perfect balance from day one. Stability on four limbs takes a little time, as demonstrated by our newest wild-born baby, Yara. Born to Yatta, Yara is just a day old here, as she learns that reversing takes a little more pre-thought. Let's not think about trunk skills yet, as with 40,000 muscle at play, that super appendage takes weeks and even months to master! Meet Yara, Yatta's fourth calf, at:show more

Wangalla has joined a flock. Our newest orphan, at... our Kaluku Neonate Unit in Tsavo, has fallen in with the resident vulturine guineafowl. She's not the first, although her predecessors preferred chasing them into an explosion of blue feathers. Wangalla's approach is much more companionable. She stands among them, plucking blades of grass with her trunk while they peck and poke around her. The birds have completely embraced her as one of their own. An unconventional chick, but a chick nonetheless. Discover how you can join Wangalla's offbeat family by adopting her today:show more

There's always one. The darling of the herd. At... our Nairobi Nursery, that's Kipekee - she has the Keepers and the other orphans alike wrapped around her tiny trunk. (It may look like our little girl is holding her own bottle, but look closely and you’ll see Keeper Peter is lending a helping hand). She usually has three or four nannies in tow, showing her the best plants and checking on her every minute. During mud baths, older elephants surround her – somehow never stepping on her despite all the splashing and wriggling. When she misbehaves, the older females simply look away. Kipekee is one of the youngest orphans at our Nursery — and you can become part of her journey through an adoption! Your donation helps fund the round-the-clock care orphans needs to thrive — milk bottles, Keeper support, and more. Adopt Kipekee for yourself or your someone special:show more

How long do elephants nurse in the wild? Years.... Wild elephant calves are milk-dependent for the first four years or so, and many will suckle from their mums for as long as they're permitted – often until a younger sibling arrives. A wild mum's milk also changes in composition as her calf grows. Our bottle-fed orphans follow a similar timeline. The formula we use isn't a perfect match for what an elephant mother produces – it can't be – but it's the closest available, and we tailor it to each age group. Without it, these babies wouldn't survive. Weaning happens slowly, at the orphan's own pace. We help it along by gradually diluting their formula and reducing feeds when the conditions are right – plenty of rains, plenty of browse. Some orphans are still drinking some milk at five or six, even as solid food makes up the bulk of their diet. For a hand-raised calf, milk is more than nutrition. It's comfort. It's part of the slower pace we deliberately take to make sure each orphan reaches reintegration ready and equipped to live wild – the call of nature always wins in the end.show more

Today is #WorldElephantDay 🐘. “Many people ask how elephants... scratch an itch. 🐘🌿 We often see them rubbing their flanks, rumps, or heads against trees to relieve itchy skin. But what about their backs? Namwan is here to demonstrate her favorite solution! She has found the perfect scratching stick and knows exactly how to use it to reach those hard-to-scratch places. The best part? When she’s finished, she doesn’t leave it behind—she carries her special scratching stick home with her, ready for the next time she needs it! Elephants are incredibly intelligent and resourceful animals. They often find creative ways to solve everyday problems, and watching them invent their own solutions never fails to amaze us. Sometimes, the simplest moments reveal just how clever ~ and how wonderfully entertaining ~ Elephants can be.” ~ Lek Chailert ❤️. 🎦: Credit: Elephant Nature Park 🐘.show more

“Many people ask how elephants scratch an itch. 🐘🌿... We often see them rubbing their flanks, rumps, or heads against trees to relieve itchy skin. But what about their backs? Namwan is here to demonstrate her favorite solution! She has found the perfect scratching stick and knows exactly how to use it to reach those hard-to-scratch places. The best part? When she’s finished, she doesn’t leave it behind—she carries her special scratching stick home with her, ready for the next time she needs it! Elephants are incredibly intelligent and resourceful animals. They often find creative ways to solve everyday problems, and watching them invent their own solutions never fails to amaze us. Sometimes, the simplest moments reveal just how clever ~ and how wonderfully entertaining ~ Elephants can be.” ~ Lek Chailert ❤️. 🎦: Credit: Elephant Nature Park 🐘.show more

Enkesha's job interview to be Lenny's Chief Nanny began... in this moment. Ever since his birth in December 2024, our ex-orphan, whose trunk was nearly severed by a snare, has consistently been one of his most dedicated caregivers. This is saying something, given how many older females compete for the job. Nowadays that trunk is working harder than ever, shepherding him about the forest and breaking up the compacted mineral-rich soil with her tusks so Lenny can access it. When baboons blocked his path and he trumpeted for help, she was among the first to arrive. Earlier this year, Keepers witnessed Enkesha mating with a wild bull so in less than two years' time, she might have her own baby to look after. Given what she's like with Lenny, she'll be a natural.show more

Meet Sulwe. You met her mum, Sonje, earlier this... week. Sulwe was born wild on Christmas morning 2024, in the Kibwezi Forest just outside our Umani Springs Reintegration Unit. Sonje was once one of our most seriously wounded rescues – she arrived in 2012, nine months old, with a fractured leg – a victim of the poaching crisis. Thirteen years later, Sonje is wild, and Sulwe is the proof. She turned one in December. Earlier this year she tried to pull the tail of another wild-born calf, found out he was stronger than she expected, and ran back to her mother. Human or elephant, the kids all have to learn how to get along, it seems. Every calf like Sulwe is a bright light of hope for elephants. Meet some of the others, alive today because years ago we rescued their orphaned mothers:show more

Slushie hasn’t found her forever home yet, but we... still have some really wonderful news to share. Every day, she’s gaining more use of her back legs - standing on her own and even taking a few steps at a time. Little by little, she’s getting stronger, and it’s impossible not to cheer her on. While she is so loved and well cared for here, we truly believe Slushie would thrive even more in a home rather than a kennel. More space, more comfort, and more one-on-one love are all the things that help a kitten heal and grow even faster. Slushie is ready for her second chance. Now she just needs someone willing to give it to her. Come meet her today!show more

Mzinga went wandering down memory lane last night! Our... nanny extraordinaire was so absorbed by escorting tiny Kipekee home that she bypassed her current stockade and made a beeline for her former baby stable — which is now occupied by young Olomunyak! A milk bottle held by Keeper Simon set her back on course to her rightful bedroom. Every elephant here is an orphan. They are in the first stage of their journey with us, the Nairobi Nursery. In time, they will graduate to a Reintegration Unit, where they will learn how to live as wild elephants. Starting at $50/£35 a year, can become part of their ongoing story through an adoption:show more

A lovely little peek into elephant devotion: While Lodo... took a nap, ‘big brother’ Sattao stood protectively over him, almost soothing him to sleep. (An even sweeter detail: Sattao is now living wild; he popped by for a visit and took it upon himself to babysit!) This is common behaviour among elephants. More often than not, it is females giving the care – but as you see here, males also have a strong nurturing streak. Growing up in our care, these little survivors have found a loving family – one that will support them for the rest of their lives. Meet the orphans we've rescued and raised: https://show more

It’s never easy as this owner knows and we... all know. “We took Angel to the lake this evening for one last adventure. I tried to stop her from getting in the water since it was cold out, but she insisted. I think she knows.” It is our last and final responsibility to our pets to let them go gracefully. If our pets quality of life is less than, we need to make hard decisions. If medications can bring up their quality then use them but every pet owner knows "the look". It’s better to be a day too early than an hour too late. 💔 You will see your sweet Angel again one day. ❤️show more

When an ex-orphan brings her new calf home, do... our Keepers get to greet the baby? Sometimes – and it's entirely up to the mother. Some, like Nasalot here, walk straight up to a familiar Keeper and let them meet the calf. Keeper Benjamin had been a part of Nasalot’s journey every step of the way since she was rescued as an infant in 2000. Today, Nasalot is all grown up and living wild but she and her family continue to visit their human-elephant family on a regular basis. Other new mothers keep the calf at a careful distance and let the Keepers observe from the side. Whatever they decide, the fact that orphans make this pilgrimage home at all is the gesture of trust. Just seeing them, thriving as a mother and a matriarch, is the reward for years of care and many sleepless nights.show more

We expect politicians to lie most of the time.... To betray us for their own gain, and to take advantage of us. We have seen and experienced this more than enough times for us to be wary of it. What we do not expect is for the family of a girl fighting for her life to deceive us and, on top of that, to use her to do so. This man, masquerading as a concerned family member and victim, has been caught claiming that he will use Yumn and stage a video "thikolhun beynun vaa gothah," and keep her there needlessly for "a long time." While I support the fight for justice and rights, this movement has been too muddied up by the elements that have infiltrated it. This is no fight for #JusticeForYumn or any other justice, as we can see in this chatlog of Mooch. I am thoroughly disappointed and disgusted, Mooch. To use her to sensationalise it just to get more cash for you is beyond words. Its no wonder sex offenders like Rashwan and liars like Shiman are organisers. A nice little symbiotic relationship between Mooch and politics.show more

Today is Shun’s birthday! With her gentle tone and... relaxed smile, Shun always has a way of making those around her feel at ease. Rather than scolding right away, she chooses to watch over others patiently, and in that calm attitude, you can feel the care and responsibility she has built up over time. At times, Shun feels like a dependable adult, yet now and then she shows a surprisingly childlike honesty, which makes her feel even closer. Shun is so used to taking care of others that she may have put her own rest on hold without noticing. Just for today, it’s okay for Shun to smile first and rest a little more than usual. I hope this is a day where the warmth she always gives comes gently back to her. #BlueArchiveshow more

Read to your newborn. 📚 With hearing developing during... the final months of gestation, it’s never too early to begin reading to your baby. And this mom is giving us an absolute master class in how to do it right. Note first that she’s reading face-to-face. At this age (10 weeks), there is literally nothing more thrilling - or instructional - to your newborn than your face. Check out how intently focused baby is on mom’s voice and facial expressions. Mom reads with expression and emotion, alternating between glances at the text and direct eye contact with her adoring audience of one. And there is so much going on in that developing brain. Did you know that during the earliest years of life babies form new neural connections at an estimated 1 million per SECOND? With these types of rich daily interactions, mom is setting her baby up for a lifetime of success. Kudos to KelseyPaumer (IG) on this fantastic and educational 🎥 clip.show more

Lenny is not yet two but he's already been... given the honour of leading the herd. Previously, that was a role earned by his mother, orphan Lima Lima, who became known as the scout of our Umani herd of orphans. Trunk high in the air, she'd intercept the scent of any wild animals in the forest, and then raise the alarm if she felt they posed a threat to her orphan-human family. Today, she leads a herd of ex-orphans and their babies, including her own – little Lenny – in the wild. Fittingly, his name means 'brave as a lion', perfect for the son of such a courageous elephant. Discover Lenny's birth story:show more

How long should my baby use a pacifier? I... get this question a lot and it’s a tough one - both because there isn’t a single correct answer and because (like feeding and sleep) the topic brings out lots of strong opinions. But if you ask me, the family in this video has the right idea. Infants are born with a strong sucking reflex and pacifiers can help them to soothe and sleep. There’s even some evidence to suggest that sleeping with pacifiers might reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In short: for babies (up to a year), I’m a big fan. But it’s not uncommon to see children with pacifiers well into toddlerhood, and in some cases, even beyond. And here I’d raise some important cautions. Children who rely heavily on pacifiers may be more prone to middle ear infections. And dentists note that prolonged pacifier use can affect your child’s teeth and create bite issues. Perhaps most importantly is their potential to impact expressive language development. Your child’s ability to speak is an important one. After a point, language shapes not only the content of our thinking, but the very structure of our cognition. By otherwise occupying the mouth over long periods of time, pacifiers may slow language development by limiting opportunities for expression. Speaking with a pacifier in the mouth can also lead to distortion of speech sounds (even when they aren’t in the mouth). All told, I’m an advocate for beginning to wean off of pacifiers at around a year of age - which is why this video spoke to me. We see an infant appropriately using one and big sister demonstrating her expressive language, her mouth unencumbered and free to chatter away happily. The transition can be difficult - but not nearly as challenging as for a child who has become dependent over a period of years. Do/did you use pacifiers with your child? Why or why not? How did you help transition away from their use? This sweet siblings were shared to IG by _lullabye_luxuries_.show more

Have you ever spotted a mother and baby Manatee... in the wild together? There’s nothing quite like the bond between a mother Manatee and her calf. ❤️ From day one, calves rely on their mums to learn how to survive in a world that’s constantly changing. That includes following her through important migratory routes to warm water refuges in the winter, and learning how to find the best foraging spots for food. A mother Manatee will nurse her calf for up to two years, teaching it everything it needs to know to make it on its own. Watching that connection in the wild is one of the most powerful things I’ve experienced out here. It’s a reminder that these animals aren’t just part of the ecosystem ~ they’re families. And they deserve our protection. 🎦 Credit: Josh Swander (FloridaGuideJosh ~ Instagram).show more