Waves

There is a tendency to focus on the matriarchs, the mothers, the nannies. But bulls operate their own networks of companionship and care. Orphaned calves Talek, Kiasa and Kandecha were found walking with protective bulls on multiple occasions; they couldn't offer the infants milk, but were kept safe until our teams could reach them. Our Field Notes edition from 2023 goes deeper into the world of these often-misunderstood animals – and the remarkable stories they have given us over the years: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/fieldnote…

Nine fixed-wing aircraft, three helicopters, six pilots covering Tsavo, Meru, Lamu, and beyond. They can spot a poacher’s camp from altitude. They can identify the smallest tell-tale injury on a bull elephant that others might miss. They can carry a Keeper and a cargo net to a rescue site where no vehicle can reach. Without our aerial unit, hundreds of the interventions we make every year would arrive too late – or not at all. And from thousands of miles away, it's your donations that make it all possible! Catch up with the team: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/aerial/fe…

Alia and Olomunyak have become great browsing buddies. We often find them snacking in the forest together, although Olomunyak spends more time helping himself to Alia’s mouthful than he does finding his own food! With that said, Alia seems very content with the arrangement. We’re equally happy to see her with a pal, especially one as kind and welcoming (greediness aside!) as Olomunyak. Alia was only rescued in October, and she’s still quite shy. These blossoming friendships are a wonderful sign. Read Alia’s full rescue story: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/alia

Hot off the digital press, our Annual Newsletter 2025 dropped today: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/annual-ne… From new generations of elephants to the regeneration of entire habitats, the seeds we have planted over the past 50 years continue to take root across the landscapes we protect – all made possible by your support. Follow the link above to explore our Newsletter in full and find out how our impact took shape last year. #wildlife #conservation #animals

Enter Kaikai's orbit and you are fair game to be co-opted into her fun! She is the youngest member of the Kaluku herd and approaches every single day – and everything in it – with the energy of a tiny force of nature. If you asked her Keepers to describe her, they'd say something like: quick-witted, curious, and utterly convinced she is the centre of the universe. She was rescued as a days-old orphan from the Mara – making her survival a hard-won success: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/kaikai

Hands up if you've been following our work for more than five years! If that's you, we bet you'll be just as tickled by this picture – doesn't Roho look grown up! Now six years old and based at our Ithumba Reintegration Unit, he has matured into a fun-loving bull who doesn't take any nonsense. He has strong opinions, a lot of energy, and apparently excellent instincts for when a camera is pointed at him. Roho's rescue story is just as unique as he is – it began with a trek up an impossibly steep lava hill in search of a grief-stricken baby standing guard next to his mother, who had passed away: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/roho

There's a love triangle – well, more of a quadrangle, actually – going on at Kaluku that hasn't made our headlines, and Keeper Peter is at the heart of it! His doe-eyed companions include Brutus (seen here), Bombi the zebra, and Pips – all equally enamoured with their human Keeper. Their adoration was so intense that Peter used to leave his coat hanging on a branch whenever he had to run off for a minute, so they could still find comfort in his smell. We shared a revealing insight into the unique ties that bind our orphans – it's from our archive, but just as relevant today: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/fieldnote…

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

Always remember that God is on your side. #JoyceQuote

It's not just the rescue – but every day that follows. The Keepers who sleep beside orphaned infant elephants and rhinos that have lost everything. The specialist milk formula that nourishes them. The months and years of patient care that turn a traumatised orphan into a confident, wild-living animal. A one-off donation helps today. A monthly donation helps us plan for the years ahead – because their journey is only just beginning. If you can, consider making a donation today. Any and every amount can truly make a difference: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/donate

We have such exciting news to share: After 10 months away, our beloved boy Manda has returned home to Voi. He was brought back by ex-orphans and what a welcome he received! We can only imagine the stories he will regal the herd with of his time away; we don’t know how long he will remain with us, but we will treasure every minute. The decision to go wild is entirely an orphans’ own, but to know that, even after all this time, he still knows where home is particularly special. More photos and details of the happy reunion and Manda’s story: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/updates/m…

Join us in cheering on Angus, Evie, Kyna, Miguel and Veronica who are running for #elephants right now! Our fab five are in London pounding the pavements in @LLHalf Raising awareness with every step, the £’s they raise will help us save wild lives in Kenya each and every day. Get involved at: justgiving.com/campaign/teams…

What does it take to rescue an orphaned elephant? Aviation fuel for the reconnaissance flight. Hours of ranger time. A vehicle strong enough to move several tonnes. Recovery straps and field tools. Constant communication across remote landscapes. And an aircraft big enough to transport the infant. We took to the skies in February to attend three orphan rescues, made possible by your donations. We hope to share their stories soon – in the meantime, meet the team instrumental in giving them a second chance at life: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/aerial/fe…

"If you don’t make changes, then nothing will change." -Joyce #EELC26

Dear God, Thank You for this day and for Your endless love. Guide my steps, calm my heart, and strengthen my faith. Help me to do what is right and to trust in Your plan. Fill my life with peace, hope, and joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The hardest rescue mission our teams have been called to? This operation to haul a bull elephant out of a sinkhole is up there. It unfolded last month when the Kenya Wildlife Service received reports of a trapped bull in Chakama. One of our pilots flew to the scene, where he met the Kulalu Anti-Poaching Team and KWS. It was a complicated situation: the bull was stuck shoulder-deep and, while he couldn't escape, he could move around inside, which made it challenging for teams to position the straps needed to free him. After consulting Dr Limo of the SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit – who was occupied with another operation – they opted to keep trying without anaesthetising the bull. Finally, the team managed to loop straps behind him and attach them to a vehicle. Inch by inch, they pulled him from his muddy trap. Your support helped fund every aspect of this life-saving mission – find out how you can be part of our next one: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

We've been witnessing a baby boom of late among the ex-orphans – and in many ways, we can trace it all the way back to 2008, when Eve was born. She was the first calf ever born to an orphan who had started their recovery at the Nairobi Nursery – a journey hundreds of motherless elephants have followed since. Emily, our trailblazing elephant matriarch, had come to us at one month old, pulled from a disused pit latrine. Her own mother failed to recognise her, so we raised her, and she returned to the wild. Then, on the morning of 11th December 2008, the Keepers at Voi set out early. They had been watching for Emily for weeks – and the night before, they had spotted her standing beneath a tree on a rocky kopje near the stockades, attended by two wild cows. They knew what that meant. When they returned at dawn, wobbling on unsteady legs beside her mother, was Eve. And since that moment, our wild family has continued to grow. Today it numbers 92 known babies, stretching from Eve to Imp – the newest member of the family: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/updates/i…

Guess who recently stopped by after a month-long wild walkabout? Mbegu, and she swiftly made herself right at home, making a beeline for this spot to relieve an itch. Those familiar with Mbegu's story will know she is an orphan of human–wildlife conflict. Her rescue was harrowing, but with the support of our donors, we nursed her through spear wounds and psychological trauma. It was then that we saw a glimmer of her personality: Mbegu is a natural leader with a boundless capacity for love. Today she roams wild with her age mates but Voi will always be home to Mbegu whenever she chooses to visit. Mbegu's story: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/mbegu

“𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝖥𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋, 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾. 𝖦𝗎𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗆𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌, 𝗆𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗒 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌. 𝖦𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝖾𝖺𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝗉𝖾𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗆𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍. 𝖡𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗆𝗒 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗍𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗎𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌. 𝖨𝗇 𝖩𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗌’ 𝗇𝖺𝗆𝖾, 𝖠𝗆𝖾𝗇.”