David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Gives Orphaned Baby Elephants and Rhinos their Only Real Shot at Life
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is very close to my heart. It is, in fact, a family favorite and we visit every now and then.
 The Trust runs a nursery on the edge of the Nairobi National Park.
It provides a well-thought through sanctuary to traumatized elephant calves and to a small extent, baby rhinos. These have mostly been orphaned through senseless poaching but also by drought.
We found the most charismatic nursery wards to be Kenya, an elephant mini-matriarch and Maalim, the feisty eight-month old rhino that we couldn't keep our hands off!
Heart-Rending Accounts
 When you visit the nursery run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, you can count on getting pretty close to (and even touching) these adorably playful creatures.
You will also see the specialized one-on-one treatment they receive 24/7.
Their heart-rending personal stories never cease to bring tears to my eyes...
When virtually all the nursery's inhabitants arrive by air, they suffer from acute trauma either because they witnessed their mother being killed for her tusks or dying because of drought or they fell down a pit and were left for dead.
Dotted Upon Round the Clock
But watching them gulp down a giant "baby bottle" of specially formulated milk always warms my heart.
 Elephant calves are milk-dependent for the first 2 years of their lives but are also intolerant to cow milk.
So it took many years of research and trial and error for Daphne Sheldrick, the Trust's founder to develop the right milk formula.
The development of elephants is slow and parallels that of human beings...
The baby elephants therefore need highly personalized care and doted upon 24/7. In fact, a keeper watches over each elephant calf in its stable all night.
They are also fed every 3 hours and wrapped in blankets to keep them warm.
The Long Journey Back to the Wild
Owing to the resurgence of poaching that has resulted from the partial lifting of the ban in ivory trading and the severe drought that is currently ravaging the country, the nursery currently has 21 baby elephants under its care, the highest ever.
After 2-4 years at the Nairobi nursery popularly referred to here as "the Elephant Orphanage," the elephant calves are moved to either of the Trust's 2 rehabilitation centers at Tsavo East National Park where they spend 6-8 years...
Free at Last!
There, they are acclimatized to the local environment and prepared for eventual reintegration into the wild. When the elephants are ready to live in the wild, they venture out of their own volition and never return to reside at the center. They often come to visit and to introduce their calves to their former human family though.
A Raft of Successes
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has recorded a series of remarkable successes since its inception in 1977.
 It has successfully hand-reared over 82 infant elephant calves. Astonishingly, 2 of these were from the date of birth.
And, more than 40 of the Trust's former charges now roam free among fellow elephants in Tsavo. Many are matriarchs themselves or live among herds headed by the Trust's former wards.
The Trust also runs de-snaring operations that destroy wire snares set to trap animals and a mobile veterinary unit that caters for sick and wounded animals.
The trust also played a crucial role in establishing enclosed rhino sanctuaries in Lake Nakuru and Tsavo West National Parks. These have promoted breeding and that has somewhat led to the regeneration of the severely endangered black rhino.
The Trust has also been a vocal advocate for maintaining the ban in ivory trading mandated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is run by Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her husband David Sheldrick who was one of Kenya's world renowned game wardens and conservationists.
Its Nairobi nursery is open for only an hour each day (11.00am -12.00pm) so prepare to arrive early. The entry fee is Ksh. 300 though there are opportunities to donate to this undoubtedly worthy cause.
Only Elephants Should Wear Ivory
Despite the Trust's triumphs in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, many challenges remain and these vulnerable baby elephants need all the help they can get.
So how can you help? First don't buy ivory or ivory trinkets as only elephants should wear ivory. Human beings don't need ivory but elephants can't do with their tusks.
Befriend an Elephant
 Second, you can foster a baby elephant orphan for your gift of $50 or more a year.
As a token of appreciation, you receive a fostering certificate together with a high resolution photo and profile of your adopted orphan together with an interactive map of where she or he was found.
In addition, you will receive monthly updates of your baby elephant's rehabilitation including entries in the keeper's diary.
You are also entitled to special bonding sessions with your baby during a time specifically reserved for foster parents.
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