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Wondering how our Keepers became elephant guardians? It’s not anything one would find on a resume. While many of our Keepers have shambas or raise livestock back home, none have worked professionally with elephants before. Over the years, we've found it best to include the orphans in our recruitment...

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Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

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28,352 views • 2 months ago •via X (Twitter)

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Early on, Dame Daphne Sheldrick discovered that the mothering of an orphaned elephant needs to be shared. Elephants can form over-attachments to any one individual and if their presence is missed, and orphan can fall into a deep depression and rapidly lose condition. It's why we have a whole team of caregivers caring for the orphans (that and it takes many hands to feed the orphans). It gives our Keepers extended time at home with their own families, and it means every orphan comes to know every Keeper, so that any one Keeper's absence is understood as a break, not another loss. We believe if we work together, we can have a bigger impact for wildlife. Find out how you can play a role:
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Early on, Dame Daphne Sheldrick discovered that the mothering of an orphaned elephant needs to be shared. Elephants can form over-attachments to any one individual and if their presence is missed, and orphan can fall into a deep depression and rapidly lose condition. It's why we have a whole team of caregivers caring for the orphans (that and it takes many hands to feed the orphans). It gives our Keepers extended time at home with their own families, and it means every orphan comes to know every Keeper, so that any one Keeper's absence is understood as a break, not another loss. We believe if we work together, we can have a bigger impact for wildlife. Find out how you can play a role:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

22,772 views • 3 months ago

When an orphan chooses life, we know they've turned a corner. And behind this choice is often a Keeper. They are the reason orphaned elephants heal – not just physically, but in the ways that matter most. Elephants are extraordinary readers of people. They know who they can trust, and they do not forget. In fact, we often say it is the elephants who are in charge of hiring our Keepers. When they give 'the nod', we know they've signed off. Keeper Joseph was originally part of our Canine Unit, but we soon discovered he had a natural gift with elephants. Kaikai agrees. You can support an orphan by adopting. Start with Kaikai:
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When an orphan chooses life, we know they've turned a corner. And behind this choice is often a Keeper. They are the reason orphaned elephants heal – not just physically, but in the ways that matter most. Elephants are extraordinary readers of people. They know who they can trust, and they do not forget. In fact, we often say it is the elephants who are in charge of hiring our Keepers. When they give 'the nod', we know they've signed off. Keeper Joseph was originally part of our Canine Unit, but we soon discovered he had a natural gift with elephants. Kaikai agrees. You can support an orphan by adopting. Start with Kaikai:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

22,358 views • 4 months ago

Wishing a very Happy Father’s Day to all the paternal figures in our lives! Today — and every day — we give special thanks to our Keepers. It takes an extraordinary person to raise an orphaned elephant. Many of our Keepers say they have their human children and their elephant children — but really, they’re all their children! Each one is raised with a lifetime of love, dedication, and support. Orphans like Toto (pictured here as a baby with Keeper Joseph) are guided by their Keepers every step of the way, until they are ready to reclaim their place in the wild. Ask any Keeper about their greatest pride, and you’ll likely hear the same answer: seeing ‘their’ babies grow up happy and healthy, return to the wild where they belong, and one day start families of their own. #fathersday
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Wishing a very Happy Father’s Day to all the paternal figures in our lives! Today — and every day — we give special thanks to our Keepers. It takes an extraordinary person to raise an orphaned elephant. Many of our Keepers say they have their human children and their elephant children — but really, they’re all their children! Each one is raised with a lifetime of love, dedication, and support. Orphans like Toto (pictured here as a baby with Keeper Joseph) are guided by their Keepers every step of the way, until they are ready to reclaim their place in the wild. Ask any Keeper about their greatest pride, and you’ll likely hear the same answer: seeing ‘their’ babies grow up happy and healthy, return to the wild where they belong, and one day start families of their own. #fathersday

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

55,641 views • 1 year 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:
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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 • 3 months ago

You asked, "How do our Keepers tell each elephant apart?" Well, its a mix of physical features – ear shape, tusk angle, tail hair, freckling, gait – and, more importantly, behaviour. Every Keeper knows the rescue history and personality of every orphan in our care. Recognition runs the other way too. At milk feeds, each orphan walks straight to their own bottle position. And elephants remember Keepers across decades – eight years after he was last seen, Ndume recognised his former Keeper Joseph. Get to know the orphans currently in our herd:
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You asked, "How do our Keepers tell each elephant apart?" Well, its a mix of physical features – ear shape, tusk angle, tail hair, freckling, gait – and, more importantly, behaviour. Every Keeper knows the rescue history and personality of every orphan in our care. Recognition runs the other way too. At milk feeds, each orphan walks straight to their own bottle position. And elephants remember Keepers across decades – eight years after he was last seen, Ndume recognised his former Keeper Joseph. Get to know the orphans currently in our herd:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

12,948 views • 3 months ago

Reintegrating elephants and rhinos looks a little different. But the end result – a life in the wild – is always the same. Central to the successful rewilding of both species is gradual acceptance by the locals. Our elephant orphans hone their survival skills over years through face-to-face interactions with wild elephants, and we tend to find herds are accepting of their presence. Rhinos are different. Deeply territorial, they don't welcome newcomers. Our rhino orphans learn through scent, dung piles and the slow process of being recognised by the wild rhinos around them. Every day, dawn to dusk, their Keepers walk them along the trails and dung piles left by their wild neighbours. The calf contributes its own, and gradually – over years – it becomes an accepted part of the local community. Apollo here is mid-way through that process. Read more:
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Reintegrating elephants and rhinos looks a little different. But the end result – a life in the wild – is always the same. Central to the successful rewilding of both species is gradual acceptance by the locals. Our elephant orphans hone their survival skills over years through face-to-face interactions with wild elephants, and we tend to find herds are accepting of their presence. Rhinos are different. Deeply territorial, they don't welcome newcomers. Our rhino orphans learn through scent, dung piles and the slow process of being recognised by the wild rhinos around them. Every day, dawn to dusk, their Keepers walk them along the trails and dung piles left by their wild neighbours. The calf contributes its own, and gradually – over years – it becomes an accepted part of the local community. Apollo here is mid-way through that process. Read more:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

11,605 views • 2 months ago

We have now met 94 babies born wild to orphan elephants we rescued, raised and rewilded. In a wonderful demonstration of the lifelong bond they form with the Keepers, many of our ex-orphan mums return to our reintegration units after giving birth to show off their babies to the people who raised them. We have even witnessed several mothers returning to give birth at our units! Every rescue carries this possibility within it. At our Umani Springs unit, we are watching a new generation of elephants enter the world. What began with two elephants in 2014 – Murera and Sonje – has grown into a family herd already featuring four wild-born babies, with more on the way! This success is one of five examples of elephant conservation in action:
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We have now met 94 babies born wild to orphan elephants we rescued, raised and rewilded. In a wonderful demonstration of the lifelong bond they form with the Keepers, many of our ex-orphan mums return to our reintegration units after giving birth to show off their babies to the people who raised them. We have even witnessed several mothers returning to give birth at our units! Every rescue carries this possibility within it. At our Umani Springs unit, we are watching a new generation of elephants enter the world. What began with two elephants in 2014 – Murera and Sonje – has grown into a family herd already featuring four wild-born babies, with more on the way! This success is one of five examples of elephant conservation in action:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

15,717 views • 16 days ago

A sight to behold, as our Umani Springs herd enjoy a drink together at the waterhole. This would never have been, were it not for lives saved many years ago: Orphaned elephants rescued and raised in our care, many with near fatal, and lifelong physical injuries. But here they are, thanks to the daily support of our Keepers and a global family of foster parents and donors. If you look closely, you’ll see two of the four calves born into this herd, growing up with their mothers - and plenty of nannies - by their side. Meet the herd at:
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A sight to behold, as our Umani Springs herd enjoy a drink together at the waterhole. This would never have been, were it not for lives saved many years ago: Orphaned elephants rescued and raised in our care, many with near fatal, and lifelong physical injuries. But here they are, thanks to the daily support of our Keepers and a global family of foster parents and donors. If you look closely, you’ll see two of the four calves born into this herd, growing up with their mothers - and plenty of nannies - by their side. Meet the herd at:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

11,090 views • 1 year ago

Every morning, our Keepers walk out with the herd. Why? Because even though these orphans are starting to hear the call of the wild, they haven't entirely found their feet. A burst of antelope through the bush or unintentionally rousing some sleeping buffalo can give our big babies a fright – and when that happens, our Keepers are there to restore calm and order. For the newest herd members – new arrivals like Toto, Natibu and Mwinzi – these walks build familiarity with a landscape that will one day be entirely their own. When that day comes, they'll no longer need our Keepers, though the bonds remain. Until then, our guardians in khaki continue to stand sentinel over the herd. Ex-orphan Manda's recent visit goes to show that these walks are pivotal to a successful reintegration – and help ensure the orphans remember the path back home whenever they want:
0:21

Every morning, our Keepers walk out with the herd. Why? Because even though these orphans are starting to hear the call of the wild, they haven't entirely found their feet. A burst of antelope through the bush or unintentionally rousing some sleeping buffalo can give our big babies a fright – and when that happens, our Keepers are there to restore calm and order. For the newest herd members – new arrivals like Toto, Natibu and Mwinzi – these walks build familiarity with a landscape that will one day be entirely their own. When that day comes, they'll no longer need our Keepers, though the bonds remain. Until then, our guardians in khaki continue to stand sentinel over the herd. Ex-orphan Manda's recent visit goes to show that these walks are pivotal to a successful reintegration – and help ensure the orphans remember the path back home whenever they want:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

47,184 views • 4 months ago

Why do our ex-orphans bring their wild-born calves home to the Keepers? We can't know exactly what's in their heads. But after ex-orphan Yatta first made the pilgrimage many years ago, nearly every ex-orphan mother has followed suit, and walked her newborn to the stockades, often within hours of giving birth, and introduce the calf to the people who raised her. It's likely a mix of trust (the Keepers were her family for years), safety (the stockade compound is calm and predictable), and recognition (these are the people she knows). Whether she's actively imprinting her calf with that knowledge or just following her own instinct to come home, the calf grows up understanding that our Keepers and the dependent orphans are a part of their family too. Meet our newest wild-born calf, baby Moon:
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Why do our ex-orphans bring their wild-born calves home to the Keepers? We can't know exactly what's in their heads. But after ex-orphan Yatta first made the pilgrimage many years ago, nearly every ex-orphan mother has followed suit, and walked her newborn to the stockades, often within hours of giving birth, and introduce the calf to the people who raised her. It's likely a mix of trust (the Keepers were her family for years), safety (the stockade compound is calm and predictable), and recognition (these are the people she knows). Whether she's actively imprinting her calf with that knowledge or just following her own instinct to come home, the calf grows up understanding that our Keepers and the dependent orphans are a part of their family too. Meet our newest wild-born calf, baby Moon:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

61,869 views • 2 months ago

From tiny orphans in need to wild-living families, we support elephants every step of their lives. Elephant conservation is not the work of a moment, but a monumental, multi-generational commitment. The lifespan of an elephant mirrors our own. As we nurture the orphans of today, we are working on the bigger picture — securing entire landscapes, safeguarding wild lives, and tackling root threats like poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict — to secure a future for all elephants. To date, we have rescued over 300 orphaned elephants and welcomed 77 wild grandbabies of our Orphans' Project. Our fast growing elephant family tree is a testament to the success of this 'big picture' conservation work. Every life saved, every wild baby born, is a result of thousands of kilometres patrolled by rangers, countless hours flown by pilots, long days and sleepless nights worked by teams in the field. Will you become part of the bigger picture? Join us this #WorldElephantDay (and every day) in protecting Kenya's elephants — become a donor or adopt an orphan:
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From tiny orphans in need to wild-living families, we support elephants every step of their lives. Elephant conservation is not the work of a moment, but a monumental, multi-generational commitment. The lifespan of an elephant mirrors our own. As we nurture the orphans of today, we are working on the bigger picture — securing entire landscapes, safeguarding wild lives, and tackling root threats like poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict — to secure a future for all elephants. To date, we have rescued over 300 orphaned elephants and welcomed 77 wild grandbabies of our Orphans' Project. Our fast growing elephant family tree is a testament to the success of this 'big picture' conservation work. Every life saved, every wild baby born, is a result of thousands of kilometres patrolled by rangers, countless hours flown by pilots, long days and sleepless nights worked by teams in the field. Will you become part of the bigger picture? Join us this #WorldElephantDay (and every day) in protecting Kenya's elephants — become a donor or adopt an orphan:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

27,775 views • 1 year ago

What's the difference between raising elephants and rhinos? We went straight to the expert: Keeper Justus. He has been a parent to his own children alongside countless orphaned elephants, giraffe, and rhinos over the many years he has been with us. He says: "Rhinos need small feeds, they sleep a lot, and they are all about scent, senses and hearing – and they are content alone with their Keeper. Elephants take a long time to feed, do not sleep a lot during the day, and they are action-oriented and very social." They also, as Mwinzi shows, get jealous too! He adds: "I have my two-footed family and my four-legged family. I think it is making people back home appreciate elephants, rhinos, and other animals through the stories I tell."
0:53

What's the difference between raising elephants and rhinos? We went straight to the expert: Keeper Justus. He has been a parent to his own children alongside countless orphaned elephants, giraffe, and rhinos over the many years he has been with us. He says: "Rhinos need small feeds, they sleep a lot, and they are all about scent, senses and hearing – and they are content alone with their Keeper. Elephants take a long time to feed, do not sleep a lot during the day, and they are action-oriented and very social." They also, as Mwinzi shows, get jealous too! He adds: "I have my two-footed family and my four-legged family. I think it is making people back home appreciate elephants, rhinos, and other animals through the stories I tell."

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

26,767 views • 2 months ago

A rumble of reassurance and a protective, draped trunk is the older orphans equivalent of telling new arrivals "you're safe now." Their soothing presence is just as important to a rescued baby’s recovery as our Keepers, creating a strong emotional support system that carries vulnerable elephants through their darkest hours, so they can one day go on to thrive back in the wild when grown. Find out how you can become a part of our support system for orphaned elephants from wherever you live through our adoption programme:
0:31

A rumble of reassurance and a protective, draped trunk is the older orphans equivalent of telling new arrivals "you're safe now." Their soothing presence is just as important to a rescued baby’s recovery as our Keepers, creating a strong emotional support system that carries vulnerable elephants through their darkest hours, so they can one day go on to thrive back in the wild when grown. Find out how you can become a part of our support system for orphaned elephants from wherever you live through our adoption programme:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

67,782 views • 9 months ago

Our Keepers sleep beside their orphans every night, feed them every three hours, and guide them through the bush each day. Over time, these elephants become family. At Kaluku, Keeper Joseph knows the day will come when the older bulls move on to Ithumba or Voi – another step toward independence. It's the goal of everything we do, but that doesn't make saying goodbye any easier; here he explains his feelings towards their inevitable move (these orphans are as much a part of their lives as their own families). Find out how you can bring one of the rescued elephants into your family through adoption:
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Our Keepers sleep beside their orphans every night, feed them every three hours, and guide them through the bush each day. Over time, these elephants become family. At Kaluku, Keeper Joseph knows the day will come when the older bulls move on to Ithumba or Voi – another step toward independence. It's the goal of everything we do, but that doesn't make saying goodbye any easier; here he explains his feelings towards their inevitable move (these orphans are as much a part of their lives as their own families). Find out how you can bring one of the rescued elephants into your family through adoption:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

16,174 views • 7 months ago

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:
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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

A breakfast of champions. Juni was rescued in May 2022 from the reeds at the edge of Lake Jipe, around three years old. Save the Elephants heard the rustling first; our pilot flew over to confirm there were no other elephants in the area and Kenya Wildlife Service greenlit a rescue. She was a drought orphan with an advanced urinary tract infection. Six weeks of recovery later, Juni walked out among our Voi herd of orphaned elephants as if she'd always been one of the family. And like all families, they have their meals together. This one? A breakfast of lucerne pellets, an important dietary supplement for the older orphans – particularly during drier periods, when browse is less readily available. One day, when she's ready Juni will hear the call of the wild. When that happens, we'll still watch over her, but instead of our Keepers, it'll be our pilots and rangers instead. Discover how donations are helping us save orphans like Juni:
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A breakfast of champions. Juni was rescued in May 2022 from the reeds at the edge of Lake Jipe, around three years old. Save the Elephants heard the rustling first; our pilot flew over to confirm there were no other elephants in the area and Kenya Wildlife Service greenlit a rescue. She was a drought orphan with an advanced urinary tract infection. Six weeks of recovery later, Juni walked out among our Voi herd of orphaned elephants as if she'd always been one of the family. And like all families, they have their meals together. This one? A breakfast of lucerne pellets, an important dietary supplement for the older orphans – particularly during drier periods, when browse is less readily available. One day, when she's ready Juni will hear the call of the wild. When that happens, we'll still watch over her, but instead of our Keepers, it'll be our pilots and rangers instead. Discover how donations are helping us save orphans like Juni:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

12,666 views • 3 months ago