Timothy Dooley

We recently shared a video of Kaikai sucking her own trunk for comfort. But its not just trunks that double up as pacifiers - as demonstrated by Jackson! A few soothing words and a chin massage ensure Mwinzi feels suitably adored by his surrogate ‘mothers’ in this throwback video. See how much little Mwinzi has grown: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/mwinzi

It was a big day around Acacia Plaza, as we celebrated the Big 10 – the 10th birthday of female giraffe, Ingrid!   Ingrid is a bonafide San Franciscan! She was born at the Zoo on April 8,, 2016 – her mom is Barbro and her father, the infamous male, Floyd, and she continues his lineage.   As the smallest giraffe of the herd, she is easy to spot, with the smallest ossicones, which are short and dark like her father. She also has white spots within darks spots, like her mom.   You’ll see her often hanging with mom Barbro and half-sister, Sarah. According to her caretaker, Ingrid is a lot like her dad was, in that she can be selective when it comes to what she wants to participate in, but with the right motivation, she can be very engaging!   She has been trained to get her weight and is currently 942 kg., or 2,076 lbs. She is working on her behaviors for hoof trims to catch up to what her mom knows, and has been trained for voluntary vaccines, which she receives once a year.   Happy 10th Birthday, Ingrid! 🦒🥳

Latika was found at a waterhole in Tsavo East with a snare around her neck and no herd in sight. She was around 18 months old. She arrived at the Nairobi Nursery with her characteristic short trunk, big head, and — as the Keepers quickly discovered — an even bigger heart. She turns 6 this week. In December, she graduated to our Umani Springs Reintegration Unit alongside Kerrio and Kamili, taking her next steps on the path back to the wild. Happy birthday, Latika. Meet Latika: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/latika

You might come to our feed for elephants – but did you know we come to the aid of any wild animal in need? Over the years, that's included aardvarks, pangolins and even cheetahs. This treatment – for the fastest animal on Earth – was an urgent priority for our attending SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Unit. Big Life had called it in: a territorial fight had left severe wounds on his paw pad and the top of his foot. A compromised paw is the difference between a successful hunt and starvation. He needed help, and he needed it quickly. A thorough clean and medication later, and he was on a healing course. When he came round, he rose to his feet and rejoined his brothers, who had waited nearby. Subsequent sightings confirmed he was already much improved. Looking back on cases like this one – from our archive, taking place in 2024 – is a reminder of what's at stake. Cheetahs have lost 90 per cent of their population over the past century and now occupy just 10 per cent of their historic range. Every individual that walks away from a treatment like this carries real weight for the species. That kind of intervention is only possible with consistent, reliable funding behind it. Monthly donations – whatever you're able to give – keep our pilots in the air, our vets on call, and our teams ready to respond when the alarm is raised: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/donate

Fewer than 3,000 Grévy's zebras remain in the wild. Every single one matters – and this treatment, which took place in 2023, is indicative of the lengths we go to to save any individual. Our helicopter was in the air within moments, carrying an experienced KWS vet to the scene of the snared male. Darted from the air and treated on the ground, the vet assessed that a full recovery was possible. And so, a little floppy-eared, this Grévy's zebra walked back into the wild. Pushed to the brink by habitat loss, competition for water, and snares, Grévy's zebras are one of Africa's most endangered species. We continue to show our support for them – undertaking aerial surveillance, documenting sightings, running ranger patrols, and carrying out life-saving veterinary treatments. Your support makes it possible: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/donate

When the rains fall…🌧️ 🐘 Elephants trudge through a heavy shower in Samburu National Reserve. The park is thriving right now - lush, green and alive. 💚 🎥 Dennis Lemantile

Sound on for munching! 🔊 Our female alpacas ‘Chai’ (white) and ‘Pekoe’ (brown) are here munching on hay, one of the staple foods in their diet. 🌿 Stop by South America to visit our alpacas! 🦙 #YourZooYYC

During summer months waterholes are spots to cool off, relax,and fun time for subadult tigers, when mom is having an eye on them from the tall grasses. Here is a cute moment from Dudhwa N.P in terai forest of UP. @DudhwaTR @rameshpandeyifs @IBCA_official

When the report came in, our team thought there had been a mistake. A lone adolescent elephant had been spotted 50 kilometres deep in community land – far from any park boundary, without a herd, with no clear explanation for how he had ended up there. At around eight years old, he was too old to be fully dependent on our care. Too young, and too far from safety, to be left to find his own way home. And too small for our usual translocation equipment. What followed required improvisation and almost every arm of our operations. And when he awoke, having been transported to Ithumba, he was surrounded. Discover what happened next – and how, despite only being in our care for a brief few months two years ago, Motomo still returns to visit: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/updates/m…

The way baby elephants learn is just by watching their moms… and this little one is already taking notes 🐘🥹💗

The Hardwoods are on the move in Samburu National Reserve. How many elephants can you spot in the caravan? 📸 @janewynyard

During a gentle rain, Rana enjoyed a full-body scratch on a tree in Yard 1, leaning and shifting to reach every itchy spot—even giving her trunk a scrub. Nearby, Mara grazed peacefully in the rain. Read more: globalelephants.org/its-ranas-turn…

This was the moment Wamata met her SWT family – and took her first helicopter flight. She was a small elephant, but it was a tight squeeze nonetheless. Her journey to safety began with an aerial sighting: a lone baby elephant, hiding in the forest. Our pilots conducted numerous searches to find her family, but came up short. With time running out, and a green light from the authorities to mount a rescue, we stepped in.  To keep her calm during the flight, we gently secured her legs and placed a blanket over her eyes to reduce stimulation. Once at her destination – our Nairobi Nursery – this precious cargo was hand-delivered into a warm stable where her recovery began.  That was back in 2024. Today, she is thriving. See how she looks now: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/wamata

Even big baby rhinos need a lot of love. Keeper Simon is showing Tytan that he's an important part of the family with ear scratches and affectionate touches. He's clearly a fan: as a wide-eyed, frightened new rescue, it was gentle scratches that helped him come round to his new human family! Thanks to constant care day and night, plus lots of milk and browse, our orphaned black rhino is growing fast. Like those before him that we have raised, he can be incredibly playful and enjoys zooming about. Then, pooped, he flops down for a rest – usually with best buddy Notty the zebra settling down beside him. Adoptions help us offer the specialist care Tytan needs to return to the wild. Adopt Tytan and become part of his foster family: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/tytan

Timeline Cleanse…. A rare pair of Elephant twins at play ❤️.

In tears just now. Just received this card from my vet following us sadly having Gem put to sleep. We cannot fault them in anyway. The room where your pets cross the 🌈 bridge is laid out so beautifully and relaxing. Thank you Birchwood Vets, a family run vet, not a conglomerate 🙏. RIP Gem 🌈 💔 😢. birchwoodvet.co.uk

Come on people, Dogs (pets) are family. Where you go they go, end off!! A family lost their home in a fire. Because of their Dog, they can't live in emergency housing. A Pasadena, N.L., man is speaking out after losing his home in a fire earlier this year, saying he and his son can't access emergency shelter options because of his son's Dog. James Osmond and his teenage son, Logan Payne, lost the majority of their belongings in an apartment fire in January. The apartment wasn't insured. The duo have been searching for a place of their own while living with family. But James said that when he called the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation's emergency line seeking temporary shelter, Logan's dog, Bebe, was a deal-breaker. "When I told them we had a pet, they told me I'd either have to drop my son's Dog off at a shelter or give her to somebody. Other than that, they couldn't help us," Osmond said. "I'm not letting my Dog go. It's not an option. That's his other half." Full Story: cbc.ca/news/canada/ne…

Wamata is a big girl nowadays, but that doesn't stop her having a little bit of fun. Our once tiny baby has grown into a kind big sister and, for the most part, her responsible side has really blossomed. Like Kerrio before her, she's decided to become the Nursery play cushion, reclining on the ground and letting the babies scramble over her. Little Kipekee was most excited, clambering on top of her and twirling her tiny trunk in excitement. Discover more about Wamata: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/wamata

Serenget does things her own way. Although she was rescued at an age when she would still have been nursing from her mother, Serenget showed no interest in milk. We tried many different tactics – a bottle, a bucket, different formulas – but she flatly refused every attempt. Then we finally discovered a solution: a Keeper would pour some milk into the tip of her trunk. Serenget would signal when it was full to the brim, then tilt the milk into her mouth. With this bit-by-bit, sip-by-sip approach, she could eventually drink two full bottles. It takes longer than the others. It requires its own dedicated Keeper. And it works perfectly. Meet Serenget: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/sereng…

The mountain bongo subspecies is critically endangered, with fewer than 100 estimated to remain in the wild