In a South-Western suburb of Nairobi is the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. If you are ever in Nairobi, this is one tourist spot that is worth a visit.
David Sheldrick was a ranger in Tsavo National Park, and also a well-known conservationist. After retirement he established an orphanage for young elephants, a labour of love that is now carried on by his widow Daphne.
A 'zoo' for elephants doesn't seem to fit in with the conservationist ideal, but this place is far from a zoo.
Elephants younger than two who lose their mother due to illness, abandonment or poaching have virtually no chance of survival. It is not that the herd deserts them, but they need milk from their mother. The calf lacks adequate nutrition and eventually dies.
The Sheldrick orphanage takes in these young animals, providing care and safety as well as a steady diet of human baby formula. Many milk substitutes were tested in the early days and this one proved the most successful.
Young elephants are kept at night in individual stalls. A keeper sleeps in each stall and looks after the elephant. These keepers are rotated so that the animal does not become too attached to a human. At the age of three years the young elephants are taken to Tsavo East National Park. They are slowly introduced back into the wild, a process that takes five years. By the age of eight the elephants have completely lost their dependence upon humans. The elephant will live for another sixty or so years. Apparently elephants have six sets of teeth, each set lasting about ten years. When the final set of teeth wears out the animal can no longer feed properly and it dies of starvation. This seems to be the natural way of life and death in the elephant world.
Each day visitors are allowed in the orphanage from 11 am until midday. The cost of entry is 500 shillings (about $6). This place is not a money-making concern. It is an institution dedicated to educating people about the plight of the elephant. It is sad to say that most of the young elephants are orphaned as a result of poaching. Even in the popular game reserves of Tsavo and Amboseli the poachers seem to be winning the war. They have modern equipment, often arriving by helicopter. They kill the elephant, take the ivory and are gone before rangers can get close to the scene.
This day there are about eighty visitors to the orphanage plus two school groups of very young and very cute children.
As you stand around a roped-off arena, a group of young elephants are led in. They need no encouragement because the keepers are in the middle with the largest baby bottles you have ever seen. The calves devour about four litres of milk and are then led around to meet the visitors. Some are extremely small and obviously very young. As this is occurring the announcer is introducing each elephant giving their name, age, place of origin and reason for being at the orphanage.
The very young elephants are then led away, and a few minutes later a procession of slightly older elephants enter the arena in single file.
They too head straight for the milk, this time being given twice as much. After their feed they entertained us by rolling in the dirt and swishing dust over themselves. Again, we are introduced to each one and come to realise the incredibly important work that this organisation is doing.
As these elephants are led away an even older group arrive. These elephants are more mature, although still virtually tusk-less. They will soon be sent to Tsavo to be introduced to a real herd.
Being so close to these animals, and being able to touch them, is an amazing experience. They seem so intelligent and so gentle. I feel very angry at those people who could kill such a majestic beast, especially with a young baby walking close by. There are theories that poor people will do anything to feed their families, but the reality seems to be that these poachers are not poor. They are well-resourced, wealthy hunters who are motivated only by greed.
A world without elephants would be very sad. I was incredibly impressed by the hard work and dedication of all involved with the orphanage.
If you want to help them, even from another continent, you can go on their web site and sponsor a baby elephant for $50 per year. They will send you regular updates on the progress of your elephant.
Go to: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
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