Twiggy is one of just 35,000 Maasai giraffes, a sub-species threatened by habitat fragmentation & bushmeat poaching. Twiggy, however, is sitting pretty, secure in her surroundings. In honour of #WorldGiraffeDay, be part of her future through an adoption. Link in bio or visit sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/twiggy #giraffe #animals #animalrescue #sheldricktrust #nature #wildlife #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #protect #conservation
Baby Raha enjoying a walk in the forest with Keeper Sammy might seem innocuous, but it’s a truly incredible sight. We rescued Raha last year, after Ol Pejeta rangers discovered her orphaned and alone. She had serious injuries to her rear-end too, likely caused by jackals attacking her - she survived, but they got her tail. For months her condition was touch and go, however, she’s a survivor, and we were also never going to give up on her. Our little tortoise, as she’s affectionately known, operates at her own pace as she bumbles around the Nairobi Nursery. You can read her full story, support her care, & enjoy monthly updates on her progress, by adopting Raha on our website sheldrickwildlifetrust.org (link in bio) #rhino #animals #animalrescue #sheldricktrust #nature #wildlife #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #conservation #blackrhino #babyrhino #babyanimals #tortoise
Mwana is quite the little athlete! Before retiring for the night, she evokes her inner Messi and plays a game of ‘milk bottle football’ with Sora! He’s one of the Keepers who raised her mother, Murera, and helped support Mwana when mum initially struggled to nurse her newborn - something she mastered on the 11th day. Over the years, we’ve met 55 calves born to orphaned elephants we rescued, raised, and reintegrated back into the wild. However, none quite like Mwana. Her mother came to us with grievous, human-inflicted injuries that will affect her for the rest of her life. For this reason, Murera prefers to remain close to home, leaning on her Keepers for the support and security that help her thrive. While she and Mwana spend their days roaming freely, Murera chooses to return to her stockade each night, knowing it protects them from any boisterous antics that might put her and her daughter at risk. If you would like to learn more about Mwana and Murera’s story, visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/murera #elephants #babyelephant #wildlife #animals #football #Soccer #SheldrickTrust #SWT #family #MureraSWT #MwanaSWT #miracle #herd #sheldrickwildlifetrust #messi
Framed by the setting sun, a bull elephant rises to his feet after a successful field veterinary treatment. SWT/KWS Vet Units have attended to 3,343 elephant cases. This is one of their most recent patients — in fact, he was one of two bulls successfully treated on this particular evening. He had a bullet wound to his leg, but thanks to timely intervention, he’s expected to make a full recovery. Learn more about our lifesaving veterinary initiative at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org #elephant #veterinary #wildlife #animals #nature #animalrescue #treatment #sheldrickwildlifetrust #kenya #sheldricktrust
Forget a bedtime story or having a bath. When it comes to the orphaned elephant’s night time routine, it’s all about a bottle of fresh milk ‘washed down’ with some hand-cut greens. It’s an approach which ensures blanket-clad babies like Mokogodo sleep soundly, once they’ve finished saying goodnight. Discover her story, and those of the other rescued elephants, rhinos, and giraffe in our care at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org (link in bio) #elephant #bedtime #blanket #animals #nature #wildlife #kenya #animalrescue #sheldrickwildlife #sheldrickwildlifetrust #babyelephant
From belly to bottom, Yebo is treating himself to a full body scratch. This tiny baby is our first ‘Ithumba great grandbaby’. His mother is Yetu, the firstborn daughter of Yatta, an orphan we rescued, raised & returned to the wild. Unlike Yatta who was raised by humans, Yetu has only ever known a wild life and her son Yebo will enjoy this same wild upbringing. We rescued Yatta in 1999, after she’d been orphaned due to poaching! She went in to become the matriarch of our Ithumba Unit, and since going wild has been a mum three times over. Her story reminds us that in saving one life, we can support future generations. Read more about Yatta, & her family at remarkable sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/yatta #elephant #animals #nature #wildlife #animalrescue #kenya #sheldrickwildlife #babyelephant #sheldrickwildlifetrust #hope #family #elephants #scratch
It’s a coconut oil spa day for the orphan baby elephants at our Kaluku Neonate Unit! This pampering ritual not only helps to keep each orphan’s skin hydrated & supple, it also affords our Keepers and their tiny charges some incredibly sweet bonding time. You can meet the elephants in our care at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org #elephant #animals #animalrescue #spaday #wildlife #nature #kenya #elephants #sheldrickwildlife #coconut #coconutoil #hydrated #hydratedskin #bonding #sheldrickwildlifetrust
World Elephant Day kisses from our newest baby in blue — Taroha! We have been waiting quite some time to share this special elephant’s tale. Taroha’s rescue in March, when KWS rangers spotted a lone, year-old, elephant calf close to Lake Jipe in Tsavo West National Park. He was still milk-dependent and far too young to be without his mother. At first, we were cautiously optimistic about Taroha. But then, he took a worrying dip. His condition crashed and his ears curled in, which is always a telltale sign of poor health. Still we forged on, taking the victories and setbacks in equal measure. It was during this time that a very special friendship was cemented in Taroha’s life. Because of his fragile state, he was partnered up with tiny Mokogodo, the youngest orphan elephant at the Nursery. Clad in their matching blue blankets, they became an unlikely couple and an inseparable pair. Where Mokogodo is feisty and definitive, Taroha is calm and easy-going. She is the ringleader, he is happy to be led. We have no doubt that this friendship helped pull Taroha through his darkest times. What better time to introduce Taroha than #WorldElephantDay, a day dedicated to securing a future for our planet’s largest animals! This is just the beginning of Taroha’s story — one that, all well, will continue to unfold for many, many decades to come. You can celebrate #WorldElephantDay and become part of Taroha’s by adopting him. To learn more, visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/taroha (link in bio) #elephants #babyelephant #blanket #animals #wildlife #animalrescue #sheldrickwildlife #nairobi #kenya #tsavo #lakejipe #nature #wild #sheldrickwildlifetrust
Big news from the Nursery recently: Raha is now eating solids! This is a wonderful development in her recovery, which will see her really start to put on weight and get a bit more bulky. Raha is a very special black rhino – a critically endangered species – who was rescued in September of last year. Predators (likely jackals) had attacked her, leaving her with extensive internal and external injuries to her rear end. Emergency veterinary intervention rebuilt her nether regions, but the healing process has come with inevitable digestive challenges. We had to tread very carefully with her diet, and understandably, Raha was reluctant to eat solids. So Raha’s newly expanded diet is an excellent development. She has a voracious appetite and is now constantly munching away — sound up to hear for yourself! To learn more about Raha and to support her through an adoption, tap our link in bio or visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/raha #raha #rhinos #blackrhino #babyrhino #rhinorescue #animalrescue #animals #babyanimals #diet #kenya #nairobi #sheldricktrust #healing #veterinary #sheldrickwildlifetrust
We all fall down sometimes, but as Doldol reminds us, life’s for living. She wastes no time getting back on her little feet and running into the next adventure. Doldol is the tiniest elephant we have ever rescued. When our team first met her, they couldn’t believe their eyes. She was impossibly small, almost certainly born premature. Her mother must have been disturbed during birth and took off, leaving her baby behind. Doldol’s life could have ended just as it began, but she is a miniature miracle. To learn more about her incredible story, tap our link in bio or visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/doldol #SheldrickTrust #SWT #DoldolSWT #kenya #elephant #babyelephant #cute #funny #water #waterbaby #animals #wildlife #animalrescue #babyanimals #sheldrickwildlifetrust
Injured by a bullet, this elephant disappeared into thick bush. Our fixed-wing pilot located him - & in the process, discovered an arrowed elephant who needed treatment. Both were darted from the air & successfully treated by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Team that same afternoon! It seems guardian angels really do have wings (& propellers too!) #elephant #veterinary #animals #wildvet #nature #SheldrickTrust #kenya #SWT #helpanimals #vet #sheldrickwildlifetrust #arrow #bullet #treatment
Hungry hungry hippos. As the dry season begins to bite, this bloat of wild hippos - pod if you prefer - is feeling the pinch. With a few bales of lucerne of an evening, we are helping see them through the tough times! #hippo #hungry #hay #animals #wild #SheldrickTrust #kenya #nature #pod #bloat #thunder #sheldrickwildlifetrust
Just. A. Little. Bit. More. Mwinzi sucks his trunk to get every last droplet of milk. He doesn't have to wait long until the next serving; every 3 hours, we hand-feed orphans of his age bottles of freshly mixed formula milk - day & night - to ensure their nutritional needs are met. Milk is a much needed & appreciated gift that you can donate towards our project via our Wish List. Find out more at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/shop/wishlist (link in bio) #elephant #babyelephant #animals #wildlife #animalrescue #hungry #milk #SheldrickTrust #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #bottle #bottlefeeding
Mwana woke up full of beans this morning! She maybe the smallest member of the Umani herd, but this wild born calf rules the roost. Funny thing is, the Umani orphans are delighted to allow her to act like the boss - why not, she’s having fun. Find out more at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org (link in bio) #elephant #babyelephant #animals #wildlife #play #mornings #wild #goodmorning #kenya #mwana #sheldricktrust #nature #sheldrickwildlifetrust
All aboard the mud train! Big boy Manda took the memo rather literally, climbing on top of fellow bull Vaarti. At the bottom, Rokka who invited the boys to her game in the first place! This trio are rescued orphans, you can discover their stories & why they needed our help at: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans (link in bio) #elephant #babyelephant #animals #wildlife #play #mud #climbing #kenya #sheldrickwildlifetrust #animalrescue #nature #games #SheldrickTrust
