Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

There was a problem loading this video. This could be due to a temporary network issue or the video might be unavailable.

Whether giraffe or an elephant, it seems the consensus is the same: the higher the leaf, the tastier it is. Kaikai has just turned one, which is still small in elephant terms – the older orphans get the best of any greens at standing height, so she has to... show more

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

254,419 subscribers

24,179 views • 1 month ago •via X (Twitter)

Science & Technology Animals

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

0 Comments

No comments available

Comments from the original post will appear here

Related Videos

Mud isn't optional for an elephant. It cools the skin in the heat, blocks the sun and keeps the biting insects off. A wild calf would learn it from the older females in her herd, but Kaikai is an orphan, so she's learning it from her Keepers and the other orphans in our care. She's determined that she's not the only one to get muddy either – a flick of the ear gets the Keeper filming this sprayed with mud! Kaikai just turned one and has years of bottles, Keepers and bush school ahead before she's ready for a wild herd of her own. Adopting Kaikai helps fund that journey:

Mud isn't optional for an elephant. It cools the skin in the heat, blocks the sun and keeps the biting insects off. A wild calf would learn it from the older females in her herd, but Kaikai is an orphan, so she's learning it from her Keepers and the other orphans in our care. She's determined that she's not the only one to get muddy either – a flick of the ear gets the Keeper filming this sprayed with mud! Kaikai just turned one and has years of bottles, Keepers and bush school ahead before she's ready for a wild herd of her own. Adopting Kaikai helps fund that journey:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

22,871 views • 2 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

23,264 views • 21 days ago

Today, our quiet girls were having a pool party! Akina is a reserved elephant by nature, but the mud bath is her time to shine. She loves water and she loves to show off in it. In fact, we often find her loitering around the pool, just waiting for the other orphans to vacate so she can have it all to herself. As the herd headed into the bush this afternoon, Akina noticed Rokka lagging behind in the water. She about-turned to join her friend, and the two girls enjoyed a splashy show-off session. The Keepers enjoyed the spectacle! Every elephant seen here is an orphan. While each suffered a unique tragedy, they found a family with us – one that will continue to love and support them through their lives. Meet the herd:

Today, our quiet girls were having a pool party! Akina is a reserved elephant by nature, but the mud bath is her time to shine. She loves water and she loves to show off in it. In fact, we often find her loitering around the pool, just waiting for the other orphans to vacate so she can have it all to herself. As the herd headed into the bush this afternoon, Akina noticed Rokka lagging behind in the water. She about-turned to join her friend, and the two girls enjoyed a splashy show-off session. The Keepers enjoyed the spectacle! Every elephant seen here is an orphan. While each suffered a unique tragedy, they found a family with us – one that will continue to love and support them through their lives. Meet the herd:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

12,412 views • 4 months 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 • 6 months ago

For all the milk and medicine, sometimes their new family can make the difference in survival for the orphans in our care. Take our newest orphan to adopt, Wangalla. Like many others, she struggled during teething. But she had fight in her, and we weren't going to give up. Greens also help, as they help bolster a calf’s biome and provide vital nutrients. But not every orphan is willing to start greens early, no matter how they’re presented. When Wangalla resisted greens, Misheck turned it into a ritual. Framed by the setting sun, he would pull his chair outside her stable, armed with a bushel of fresh greens. One by one, he would pluck every leaf off the branches, selecting only the best. Then, he would hand-feed each individual leaf to Wangalla. At first, we celebrated when she relented to eat two or three. As the days and weeks passed, she developed a voracious appetite for greens — provided they were hand-presented by Misheck! Now you can play a part in Wangalla's recovery by adopting her:

For all the milk and medicine, sometimes their new family can make the difference in survival for the orphans in our care. Take our newest orphan to adopt, Wangalla. Like many others, she struggled during teething. But she had fight in her, and we weren't going to give up. Greens also help, as they help bolster a calf’s biome and provide vital nutrients. But not every orphan is willing to start greens early, no matter how they’re presented. When Wangalla resisted greens, Misheck turned it into a ritual. Framed by the setting sun, he would pull his chair outside her stable, armed with a bushel of fresh greens. One by one, he would pluck every leaf off the branches, selecting only the best. Then, he would hand-feed each individual leaf to Wangalla. At first, we celebrated when she relented to eat two or three. As the days and weeks passed, she developed a voracious appetite for greens — provided they were hand-presented by Misheck! Now you can play a part in Wangalla's recovery by adopting her:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

22,876 views • 2 months ago

All those greens and milk bottles are adding up – we weighed Kaikai this weekend and she registered a very sturdy 172.5 kilograms (380 pounds)! Kaikai is one of the youngest orphans in our care. We rescued her in May 2025, after her mother died of natural causes. It was an uphill battle, but today she is absolutely thriving. Want to support Kaikai’s journey back to the wild? Gift a bottle of milk to the orphans and help infants like her grow strong!

All those greens and milk bottles are adding up – we weighed Kaikai this weekend and she registered a very sturdy 172.5 kilograms (380 pounds)! Kaikai is one of the youngest orphans in our care. We rescued her in May 2025, after her mother died of natural causes. It was an uphill battle, but today she is absolutely thriving. Want to support Kaikai’s journey back to the wild? Gift a bottle of milk to the orphans and help infants like her grow strong!

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

20,366 views • 6 months ago

Welcome Kaikai to the family - she has just joined our adoption program! Orphaned at just one week old, Kaikai survived thanks to the bravery of rangers, the teamwork of dedicated conservationists, and the expertise of our Keepers. She arrived in our care hungry, confused and crying out for her mother – but with tender love and care from our most experienced Keepers, she gradually healed from her emotional trauma. Having found the love of a new family – just in the nick of time – Kaikai has a bright future back in the wild ahead of her. Adopt Kaikai today and you’ll become one of her first adopters. Plus, as part of our Matched Giving Campaign, your donation will be doubled, having twice the impact for orphans like Kaikai. Adopt Kaikai:

Welcome Kaikai to the family - she has just joined our adoption program! Orphaned at just one week old, Kaikai survived thanks to the bravery of rangers, the teamwork of dedicated conservationists, and the expertise of our Keepers. She arrived in our care hungry, confused and crying out for her mother – but with tender love and care from our most experienced Keepers, she gradually healed from her emotional trauma. Having found the love of a new family – just in the nick of time – Kaikai has a bright future back in the wild ahead of her. Adopt Kaikai today and you’ll become one of her first adopters. Plus, as part of our Matched Giving Campaign, your donation will be doubled, having twice the impact for orphans like Kaikai. Adopt Kaikai:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

16,188 views • 8 months ago

Every morning the Kaluku orphans head out into the bush with their Keepers – and this is where the real learning happens. Out here the babies learn which greens to eat, how to use a mud bath, how to socialise, and how to have fun! Leading the charge today: Believe it or not, it's Bungalu! Close behind is Kaikai – who likes to think she runs the show – and, more often than not, she does! These two make a wonderfully odd couple: Bungalu is slow and steady, while Kaikai is a bundle of boundless energy. Get a flavour of life at Kaluku in our Keepers' Diaries:

Every morning the Kaluku orphans head out into the bush with their Keepers – and this is where the real learning happens. Out here the babies learn which greens to eat, how to use a mud bath, how to socialise, and how to have fun! Leading the charge today: Believe it or not, it's Bungalu! Close behind is Kaikai – who likes to think she runs the show – and, more often than not, she does! These two make a wonderfully odd couple: Bungalu is slow and steady, while Kaikai is a bundle of boundless energy. Get a flavour of life at Kaluku in our Keepers' Diaries:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

20,499 views • 22 days ago

An elephant’s trunk is a complex network of 40,000 muscles, compared to just 600 in the entire human body. Little Zigi is still getting to grips with one or two hundred of his — every baby elephant has a learning curve! Zigi is a ‘grandchild’ of our Orphans’ Project: His mother, Zongoloni, was orphaned when she was just a baby; raised in our care and now living wild in the Kibwezi Forest ecosystem. Meet the 76 known ‘grandchildren’ born to our Orphans’ Project:

An elephant’s trunk is a complex network of 40,000 muscles, compared to just 600 in the entire human body. Little Zigi is still getting to grips with one or two hundred of his — every baby elephant has a learning curve! Zigi is a ‘grandchild’ of our Orphans’ Project: His mother, Zongoloni, was orphaned when she was just a baby; raised in our care and now living wild in the Kibwezi Forest ecosystem. Meet the 76 known ‘grandchildren’ born to our Orphans’ Project:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

31,225 views • 1 year ago

Rescued in June, Kipekee lost her mother to human-wildlife conflict. She arrived at our Nursery in very poor condition, and it has taken round-the-clock care to nurse her back to health. Along the way, she has picked up a number of bodyguards - older orphans who have made it their mission to make sure this plucky little girl always has a chaperone. When Muridjo realised no one (elephant) had eyes on Kipekee, she immediately she ran over to check the little one was A-okay. This is just the beginning of Kipekee’s journey back to the wild — one you can support through an adoption:

Rescued in June, Kipekee lost her mother to human-wildlife conflict. She arrived at our Nursery in very poor condition, and it has taken round-the-clock care to nurse her back to health. Along the way, she has picked up a number of bodyguards - older orphans who have made it their mission to make sure this plucky little girl always has a chaperone. When Muridjo realised no one (elephant) had eyes on Kipekee, she immediately she ran over to check the little one was A-okay. This is just the beginning of Kipekee’s journey back to the wild — one you can support through an adoption:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

71,290 views • 10 months 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 • 2 months ago

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Korbessa, our little frog, is still frogging her way through life. These clips were taken 18 months apart, but it’s the same elephant, same dust pile, same pose! It’s been a period of transition for Korbessa. Her band of bulls (Toto, Natibu, and Mwinzi) just graduated to Ithumba, leaving her the senior elephant at Kaluku. We wondered how she would handle the change, but she hasn’t skipped a beat! She is now the leader of a little girl gang (Lamuu, and two orphans we are excited to introduce) and seems beyond content with the arrangement. Korbessa is one of the younger orphans currently in our care. Discover her rescue story and support her journey back to the wild:

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Korbessa, our little frog, is still frogging her way through life. These clips were taken 18 months apart, but it’s the same elephant, same dust pile, same pose! It’s been a period of transition for Korbessa. Her band of bulls (Toto, Natibu, and Mwinzi) just graduated to Ithumba, leaving her the senior elephant at Kaluku. We wondered how she would handle the change, but she hasn’t skipped a beat! She is now the leader of a little girl gang (Lamuu, and two orphans we are excited to introduce) and seems beyond content with the arrangement. Korbessa is one of the younger orphans currently in our care. Discover her rescue story and support her journey back to the wild:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

17,760 views • 3 months ago

Milk time is go time! Mzinga, Olumunyak, Nyambeni, and Shujaa arriving in an elephant train for their warm bottles of the good stuff! Although Nyambeni has clearly decided that today she doesn’t want the ‘effort’ of holding her own bottle… lucky she has attentive Keepers, like Titus, on hand! Meet this foursome of rescued orphans:

Milk time is go time! Mzinga, Olumunyak, Nyambeni, and Shujaa arriving in an elephant train for their warm bottles of the good stuff! Although Nyambeni has clearly decided that today she doesn’t want the ‘effort’ of holding her own bottle… lucky she has attentive Keepers, like Titus, on hand! Meet this foursome of rescued orphans:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

12,792 views • 1 year ago

One month after her rescue, Zuri is firmly part of the family. When she wakes up each morning, Wamata knocks on her stable door. By the time the Keepers let her out, a queue of older girls has formed, waiting to take her out to the forest each morning. This show of love has been pivotal to Zuri's recovery: orphans rescued from wells or pits often have long grieving periods, and the acceptance from the herd from the get-go has helped lessen the psychological blow she suffered at such a young age. Zuri is an abandoned elephant calf who we rescued from a septic tank. Adopting Zuri helps fund her milk, her Keepers, and her journey back to the wild:

One month after her rescue, Zuri is firmly part of the family. When she wakes up each morning, Wamata knocks on her stable door. By the time the Keepers let her out, a queue of older girls has formed, waiting to take her out to the forest each morning. This show of love has been pivotal to Zuri's recovery: orphans rescued from wells or pits often have long grieving periods, and the acceptance from the herd from the get-go has helped lessen the psychological blow she suffered at such a young age. Zuri is an abandoned elephant calf who we rescued from a septic tank. Adopting Zuri helps fund her milk, her Keepers, and her journey back to the wild:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

64,201 views • 1 month ago

In the wild, they have their mum's help. In our care, the rescued orphan #elephants have their surrogate parents - the Keepers. Encouraging baby elephants to eat greens, and showing them how to pick and pluck them, is all part of the support journey.

In the wild, they have their mum's help. In our care, the rescued orphan #elephants have their surrogate parents - the Keepers. Encouraging baby elephants to eat greens, and showing them how to pick and pluck them, is all part of the support journey.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

31,985 views • 2 years ago

We often joke that Kaikai loves the mud bath so much than she would sleep in it, if she could. This is actually more fact than fiction, as she sometimes manages to catch a few winks in the water! Such was the case here. She turned herself around like the face of a clock, took the briefest of siestas, gave herself another quarter turn just for good measure, and then resumed relaxation. We know better than to rush her – it’s Kaikai’s world; we just live in it! Kaikai is one of the youngest orphans in our care. Her mother died of natural causes when she was just a few days old. Now, she has a family with us and wild future ahead of her. Read Kaikai’s rescue story and find out how you can support her journey:

We often joke that Kaikai loves the mud bath so much than she would sleep in it, if she could. This is actually more fact than fiction, as she sometimes manages to catch a few winks in the water! Such was the case here. She turned herself around like the face of a clock, took the briefest of siestas, gave herself another quarter turn just for good measure, and then resumed relaxation. We know better than to rush her – it’s Kaikai’s world; we just live in it! Kaikai is one of the youngest orphans in our care. Her mother died of natural causes when she was just a few days old. Now, she has a family with us and wild future ahead of her. Read Kaikai’s rescue story and find out how you can support her journey:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

18,497 views • 3 months ago

Kaikai just turned one. She's our youngest orphan elephant at our Kaluku Neonate Unit in Tsavo – and still learning a lot about her wild world. The first year of an orphan's life is the hardest. Up to 24 litres of milk a day, every three hours, day and night – round-the-clock Keeper care for years. Kaikai has another decade of that road ahead before she's ready to return to the wild. Adopt Kaikai:

Kaikai just turned one. She's our youngest orphan elephant at our Kaluku Neonate Unit in Tsavo – and still learning a lot about her wild world. The first year of an orphan's life is the hardest. Up to 24 litres of milk a day, every three hours, day and night – round-the-clock Keeper care for years. Kaikai has another decade of that road ahead before she's ready to return to the wild. Adopt Kaikai:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

14,718 views • 2 months ago

Do baby elephants suck their trunks? As demonstrated by Kaikai, yes they do! When she doesn't fancy suckling on her own trunk for comfort, she has a retinue of Keepers at her beck and call to offer cuddles or a finger as a pacifier instead. Ensuring the very youngest orphans feel comforted is paramount to their survival – alongside milk. But it's not for the faint-hearted. Behind every newborn orphaned elephant that survives is a Keeper who has poured endless hours of love and care, spent long nights singing lullabies, and gently encouraged their young charge to stand on the weighing scales for weekly weigh-ins – no small feat in itself:

Do baby elephants suck their trunks? As demonstrated by Kaikai, yes they do! When she doesn't fancy suckling on her own trunk for comfort, she has a retinue of Keepers at her beck and call to offer cuddles or a finger as a pacifier instead. Ensuring the very youngest orphans feel comforted is paramount to their survival – alongside milk. But it's not for the faint-hearted. Behind every newborn orphaned elephant that survives is a Keeper who has poured endless hours of love and care, spent long nights singing lullabies, and gently encouraged their young charge to stand on the weighing scales for weekly weigh-ins – no small feat in itself:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

23,458 views • 4 months ago

the versatility. the quality in each element. Doechii just gets it. Doechii just gets IT. She has IT. Need her at The Grammys… to see her on the cover of magazines. She is IT!

the versatility. the quality in each element. Doechii just gets it. Doechii just gets IT. She has IT. Need her at The Grammys… to see her on the cover of magazines. She is IT!

ICYESTTWAT

141,768 views • 1 year ago

Kaikai was a girl on a mission. She slunk away from the mud bath with one thing in mind: more milk. The empty bottles hadn’t escaped her notice and she had clearly been plotting ever since. Her belly was already full, courtesy of the now-empties, but she thought they might just bear a surprise extra serving. Kaikai isn’t quite big enough to hold her own bottle, but she has fully grasped the technique. It was fascinating (and impressive) to watch her problem solve her way through the situation. She’s such an ingenious little elephant. (And don’t worry, we lent a helping hand in the end) Kaikai is here today because of supporters like you. Rescued as a newborn orphan, she will have a home with us until she is ready to reclaim her place in the wild, a process that may take upwards of a decade. Learn more about Kaikai and perhaps support her through an adoption:

Kaikai was a girl on a mission. She slunk away from the mud bath with one thing in mind: more milk. The empty bottles hadn’t escaped her notice and she had clearly been plotting ever since. Her belly was already full, courtesy of the now-empties, but she thought they might just bear a surprise extra serving. Kaikai isn’t quite big enough to hold her own bottle, but she has fully grasped the technique. It was fascinating (and impressive) to watch her problem solve her way through the situation. She’s such an ingenious little elephant. (And don’t worry, we lent a helping hand in the end) Kaikai is here today because of supporters like you. Rescued as a newborn orphan, she will have a home with us until she is ready to reclaim her place in the wild, a process that may take upwards of a decade. Learn more about Kaikai and perhaps support her through an adoption:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

22,377 views • 1 month ago