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Mbegu is gradually transitioning to a wild life and recently started sleeping outside the Voi Stockades — but, like any youngster flying the nest, she returns like clockwork for a free meal! This is all a part of the reintegration phase: short forays away from the dependent herd, then... show more

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

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12,536 views • 1 year ago •via X (Twitter)

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Water is not just a necessity—it’s a source of joy, learning, and connection for elephants like Mbegu and her herd. Every afternoon, our Keepers replenish the mud bath and water troughs at Voi, ensuring orphans and wild elephants alike have fresh water to drink and wallow in. For clever matriarch Mbegu, the bowser doubles as her personal fountain, a behaviour eagerly copied by her protégé, Lemeki. 💧 Help us provide life-saving water to elephants like Mbegu:

Water is not just a necessity—it’s a source of joy, learning, and connection for elephants like Mbegu and her herd. Every afternoon, our Keepers replenish the mud bath and water troughs at Voi, ensuring orphans and wild elephants alike have fresh water to drink and wallow in. For clever matriarch Mbegu, the bowser doubles as her personal fountain, a behaviour eagerly copied by her protégé, Lemeki. 💧 Help us provide life-saving water to elephants like Mbegu:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

22,175 views • 1 year ago

When our orphans return to the wild, how do they find a herd? Slowly. Reintegration isn't a single moment – it happens over years. At our Reintegration Units in Tsavo and Umani Springs, orphans grow steadily more independent, spending days and then nights away, until the wild becomes home. Even then, many still choose return to the place and people that raised them every now and again. Most don't go it alone. They join herds of ex-orphans who went wild before them, or form their own, made up of other ex-orphans they grew up with – the friendships made at the unit become the family they live wild with. Suguta lives out in Tsavo with the same four friends she's had since the Nursery. As for who leads – matriarchy settles the way it does in any wild herd: through age, temperament, and the respect of the others. Herds aren’t one amorphous unit either, groups will splinter off and then rejoin, and these splinter herds will have their own mini-leaders. For more about how we reintegrate orphaned elephants to the wild, a process we’ve honed over nearly five decades, visit:

When our orphans return to the wild, how do they find a herd? Slowly. Reintegration isn't a single moment – it happens over years. At our Reintegration Units in Tsavo and Umani Springs, orphans grow steadily more independent, spending days and then nights away, until the wild becomes home. Even then, many still choose return to the place and people that raised them every now and again. Most don't go it alone. They join herds of ex-orphans who went wild before them, or form their own, made up of other ex-orphans they grew up with – the friendships made at the unit become the family they live wild with. Suguta lives out in Tsavo with the same four friends she's had since the Nursery. As for who leads – matriarchy settles the way it does in any wild herd: through age, temperament, and the respect of the others. Herds aren’t one amorphous unit either, groups will splinter off and then rejoin, and these splinter herds will have their own mini-leaders. For more about how we reintegrate orphaned elephants to the wild, a process we’ve honed over nearly five decades, visit:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

17,194 views • 3 months ago

Our Umani herd is heading home for the night, with Mwana, Kerrio and Kapei politely jostling for first position! Many of the elephants in this line no longer sleep in the stockades. But the Umani herd is a true unit, choosing to travel together. Those who now spend their nights in the forest lead their stockade-dependent friends home, see them safely inside, then head off to spend the night in the bush. Come morning, they’ll gather outside the stockades and set off together once again. None of these elephants are related by birth. Each is an orphan raised through our Orphans’ Project or, like Mwana, the wild-born offspring of one. Yet they are bound by the same deep bonds as any elephant family. Learn more about this special herd:

Our Umani herd is heading home for the night, with Mwana, Kerrio and Kapei politely jostling for first position! Many of the elephants in this line no longer sleep in the stockades. But the Umani herd is a true unit, choosing to travel together. Those who now spend their nights in the forest lead their stockade-dependent friends home, see them safely inside, then head off to spend the night in the bush. Come morning, they’ll gather outside the stockades and set off together once again. None of these elephants are related by birth. Each is an orphan raised through our Orphans’ Project or, like Mwana, the wild-born offspring of one. Yet they are bound by the same deep bonds as any elephant family. Learn more about this special herd:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

15,418 views • 1 month ago

Naleku the Nanny! More often than not, female elephants welcome the opportunity to nanny younger siblings and members of their herd. Naleku takes this to the next level: In late 2025, she left the dependent herd early, refusing to enter her bedroom to instead spend nights out in the wild caring for the ex-orphans' calves. She has been a devoted junior nanny to Nasalot's family ever since – and here she is out in front, leading tiny Nala with Nasalot following behind. When Naleku's turn at motherhood arrives, it will be interesting to see who she thinks is up to the task of nannying her offspring! Enjoy the story of Nala's arrival:

Naleku the Nanny! More often than not, female elephants welcome the opportunity to nanny younger siblings and members of their herd. Naleku takes this to the next level: In late 2025, she left the dependent herd early, refusing to enter her bedroom to instead spend nights out in the wild caring for the ex-orphans' calves. She has been a devoted junior nanny to Nasalot's family ever since – and here she is out in front, leading tiny Nala with Nasalot following behind. When Naleku's turn at motherhood arrives, it will be interesting to see who she thinks is up to the task of nannying her offspring! Enjoy the story of Nala's arrival:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

15,299 views • 1 month ago

All elephants celebrate a new baby with great fanfare, but our ex-orphans take it to the next level. Perhaps it is because they didn’t grow up in the wild, witnessing births within their natal herd. It has become a time-honoured tradition for ex-orphans to return ‘home’ to our stockades within days or even hours of giving birth, bursting with pride and eager to show off their new addition to the people who raised them. But, when an ex-orphan brings their new calf home, do they let our Keepers near? Some do, the choice is always theirs. Emily was the first of our Nursery-reared orphans to return with a wild-born calf, and she was confident enough to share her baby with the Keepers who had raised her. The most trusting examples are the ex-orphans who've returned to give birth at the Stockades - a miracle we've seen unfold twice. Emily is one of them. Melia is the other:

All elephants celebrate a new baby with great fanfare, but our ex-orphans take it to the next level. Perhaps it is because they didn’t grow up in the wild, witnessing births within their natal herd. It has become a time-honoured tradition for ex-orphans to return ‘home’ to our stockades within days or even hours of giving birth, bursting with pride and eager to show off their new addition to the people who raised them. But, when an ex-orphan brings their new calf home, do they let our Keepers near? Some do, the choice is always theirs. Emily was the first of our Nursery-reared orphans to return with a wild-born calf, and she was confident enough to share her baby with the Keepers who had raised her. The most trusting examples are the ex-orphans who've returned to give birth at the Stockades - a miracle we've seen unfold twice. Emily is one of them. Melia is the other:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

34,106 views • 4 months ago

Family reunion, elephant style. Three ex-orphans came home to our Voi stockades in January, each with a wild-born calf (or two!) alongside her. Edie. Mweya. Arruba. All rescued from Tsavo years ago, all now mothers, raising families of their own in the wild. But like kids who've flown the nest, they're still popping round to raid the fridge and sneak in some childcare. Our elephant family tree has plenty of branches these days. Meet our wild-born grandkids:

Family reunion, elephant style. Three ex-orphans came home to our Voi stockades in January, each with a wild-born calf (or two!) alongside her. Edie. Mweya. Arruba. All rescued from Tsavo years ago, all now mothers, raising families of their own in the wild. But like kids who've flown the nest, they're still popping round to raid the fridge and sneak in some childcare. Our elephant family tree has plenty of branches these days. Meet our wild-born grandkids:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

44,907 views • 3 months ago

After a long day exploring the wilds of Tsavo, our Voi herd is heading home with a definitive dash of panache. Everyone is excited for milk bottles and bedtime! Every elephant here is an orphan, growing up to reclaim their place among Tsavo’s wild herds. Meet the Voi herd and support their journey back to the wild through adoption:

After a long day exploring the wilds of Tsavo, our Voi herd is heading home with a definitive dash of panache. Everyone is excited for milk bottles and bedtime! Every elephant here is an orphan, growing up to reclaim their place among Tsavo’s wild herds. Meet the Voi herd and support their journey back to the wild through adoption:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

16,245 views • 18 days ago

Wait for it…Sagala absolutely nailed her brand new baby’s debut! Right after giving birth, she headed to our Voi stockades so she could share the moment with her human-elephant family. As you can see, the dependent orphans were delighted to meet their new baby ‘cousin.’ Not so long ago, Sagala was a dependent orphan herself. Although she is now living wild, she remains deeply boned to the people who raised her for the better part of a decade. We are so thrilled and honoured that she chose to return home and include us in her big moment. Revisit Sagala’s story:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

11,571 views • 8 months ago

Elephant society is built on respect – and that was beautifully demonstrated at Ithumba today. When our dependent herd gathered for a drink, they deferred to their senior, Challa, a 21-year-old ex-orphan. Then, when the wild bulls wanted to drink, Challa stepped respectfully aside. While he towers over our dependent orphans, he's still a junior rank in elephant society. By watching Challa navigate these different relationships, our dependent orphans are learning the social etiquette they will need when they too reclaim their place in the wild. Every day, lessons like these unfold at our three Reintegration Units, helping our orphans learn how to live as wild elephants. Discover more:

Elephant society is built on respect – and that was beautifully demonstrated at Ithumba today. When our dependent herd gathered for a drink, they deferred to their senior, Challa, a 21-year-old ex-orphan. Then, when the wild bulls wanted to drink, Challa stepped respectfully aside. While he towers over our dependent orphans, he's still a junior rank in elephant society. By watching Challa navigate these different relationships, our dependent orphans are learning the social etiquette they will need when they too reclaim their place in the wild. Every day, lessons like these unfold at our three Reintegration Units, helping our orphans learn how to live as wild elephants. Discover more:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

14,031 views • 22 days ago

A bullet wound to the leg, seven months of bed rest, and now walking strong with the rest of the Voi herd: Meet little Serenget. She is only two years old and has already been through so much in her short life. But her journey back to the wild is just beginning. Join her foster family and become one of her first adopters to follow her story as it unfolds:

A bullet wound to the leg, seven months of bed rest, and now walking strong with the rest of the Voi herd: Meet little Serenget. She is only two years old and has already been through so much in her short life. But her journey back to the wild is just beginning. Join her foster family and become one of her first adopters to follow her story as it unfolds:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

27,215 views • 6 months ago

Even if you don't know Laikipia's story, we're willing to bet you might guess who he is in this line-up! He visited last month among a cohort of more than twenty ex-orphans who had padded in from the bush. Sometimes he rocked up with the herd. Other times, he came alone. And sometimes, our Casanova was on a mission: to woo Suswa! The two elephants spent two or three days together, so we look forward to seeing whether the pitter-patter of tiny feet comes from that sojourn. Although everyone gives him the respect he is due, Laikipia is very tolerant of the dependent orphans. When he arrived for breakfast after his honeymoon, he scooped up range cubes next to Kenderi at the feeding trough and then drank from the water trough next to Lemeki. Little and large together, and a sign of the future that awaits our dependent orphan herd! Discover how we raise orphaned elephants from rescue to wild:

Even if you don't know Laikipia's story, we're willing to bet you might guess who he is in this line-up! He visited last month among a cohort of more than twenty ex-orphans who had padded in from the bush. Sometimes he rocked up with the herd. Other times, he came alone. And sometimes, our Casanova was on a mission: to woo Suswa! The two elephants spent two or three days together, so we look forward to seeing whether the pitter-patter of tiny feet comes from that sojourn. Although everyone gives him the respect he is due, Laikipia is very tolerant of the dependent orphans. When he arrived for breakfast after his honeymoon, he scooped up range cubes next to Kenderi at the feeding trough and then drank from the water trough next to Lemeki. Little and large together, and a sign of the future that awaits our dependent orphan herd! Discover how we raise orphaned elephants from rescue to wild:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

12,269 views • 6 months ago

Twiggy has really taken the ostrich twins under her wing! Our lovely, leggy giraffe is a great friend to all the orphans, but she has been going out of her way to spend time with Bam and Boozle. Seeing how comfortable Boozle is resting in her presence here, the feeling is clearly mutual. Twiggy and Boozle are two members of our eclectic, beloved orphan herd. While we are best known for raising orphaned elephants and rhinos, we offer a family and a wild future to any creature in need. To learn more about our conservation work and meet the orphans in our care visit:

Twiggy has really taken the ostrich twins under her wing! Our lovely, leggy giraffe is a great friend to all the orphans, but she has been going out of her way to spend time with Bam and Boozle. Seeing how comfortable Boozle is resting in her presence here, the feeling is clearly mutual. Twiggy and Boozle are two members of our eclectic, beloved orphan herd. While we are best known for raising orphaned elephants and rhinos, we offer a family and a wild future to any creature in need. To learn more about our conservation work and meet the orphans in our care visit:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

30,870 views • 1 year ago

Have you met baby Wamata? Wamata is a 2-year-old little girl who is part elephant and part silly goose. She was rescued by my friends at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust a year ago, when she was found alone in the bush without her mom or her herd. Now, she is living at the Sheldrick Trust nursery in Nairobi and is surrounded by other orphans who understand the pain and trauma that comes with losing their family. They support each other in life. At the nursery, Wamata will learn how to be an elephant from the older orphans, but also from her human keepers, who watch over her 24/7 and, for the younger babies, sleep next to them every night so they can be bottle fed and comforted when they wake up in the middle of the night. By the time she is between the ages of 8–10, Wamata, like all Sheldrick orphans, will make her way out into the wild — which is her birthright. She will have her own babies in the wild, and if history is any guide, she will do what many former Sheldrick Trust orphans have done and return to introduce her wild-born babies to the men who helped to raise her. Thank you to all of you who have supported the Sheldrick Trust, and thank you to all my friends at the Trust for all your dedication and hard work! I love you!

Have you met baby Wamata? Wamata is a 2-year-old little girl who is part elephant and part silly goose. She was rescued by my friends at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust a year ago, when she was found alone in the bush without her mom or her herd. Now, she is living at the Sheldrick Trust nursery in Nairobi and is surrounded by other orphans who understand the pain and trauma that comes with losing their family. They support each other in life. At the nursery, Wamata will learn how to be an elephant from the older orphans, but also from her human keepers, who watch over her 24/7 and, for the younger babies, sleep next to them every night so they can be bottle fed and comforted when they wake up in the middle of the night. By the time she is between the ages of 8–10, Wamata, like all Sheldrick orphans, will make her way out into the wild — which is her birthright. She will have her own babies in the wild, and if history is any guide, she will do what many former Sheldrick Trust orphans have done and return to introduce her wild-born babies to the men who helped to raise her. Thank you to all of you who have supported the Sheldrick Trust, and thank you to all my friends at the Trust for all your dedication and hard work! I love you!

Yashar Ali 🐘

43,434 views • 7 months ago

Ten years ago a one-tusked wild elephant turned up at Ithumba – she was so disruptive that the Keepers nicknamed her 'Crazy One'. She has come a long way since then! Over the years our orphans taught her that the Keepers could be trusted, and today she moves freely between the wild and our Ithumba Unit, even taking our ex-orphans under her wing. Last year, she brought a newborn of her own into the fold, mimicking the behaviour of our ex-orphans in choosing to introduce her precious calf to her extended human-elephant herd. She was never one of ours to raise – but a decade on, she is unmistakably part of the family. Enjoy more stories from the wild at:

Ten years ago a one-tusked wild elephant turned up at Ithumba – she was so disruptive that the Keepers nicknamed her 'Crazy One'. She has come a long way since then! Over the years our orphans taught her that the Keepers could be trusted, and today she moves freely between the wild and our Ithumba Unit, even taking our ex-orphans under her wing. Last year, she brought a newborn of her own into the fold, mimicking the behaviour of our ex-orphans in choosing to introduce her precious calf to her extended human-elephant herd. She was never one of ours to raise – but a decade on, she is unmistakably part of the family. Enjoy more stories from the wild at:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

23,635 views • 1 month ago

Good night from Keeper Joseph & rescued calf Korbessa. Our Orphans' Project is all about giving orphaned elephants like Korbessa (& other wild animals) a second chance to embrace life. The best part? You can help the herd reclaim their birth right & return to the wild through an adoption:

Good night from Keeper Joseph & rescued calf Korbessa. Our Orphans' Project is all about giving orphaned elephants like Korbessa (& other wild animals) a second chance to embrace life. The best part? You can help the herd reclaim their birth right & return to the wild through an adoption:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

68,636 views • 2 years ago

Zongoloni has always been a leader. She stepped up to lead the 'nightclubbers' (a group of young independent bulls) out on their earliest nights away from the stockades, blazing the trail the others would follow. She came to us in 2013, rescued as an 18-month-old after poachers shot her mother. Fourteen now and entirely wild, she still brings her family and friends back to the stockades where she was raised, again and again. Discover Zongoloni's journey to matriarch:

Zongoloni has always been a leader. She stepped up to lead the 'nightclubbers' (a group of young independent bulls) out on their earliest nights away from the stockades, blazing the trail the others would follow. She came to us in 2013, rescued as an 18-month-old after poachers shot her mother. Fourteen now and entirely wild, she still brings her family and friends back to the stockades where she was raised, again and again. Discover Zongoloni's journey to matriarch:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

19,387 views • 2 months ago