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Writer's pictureKristen

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Protecting Kenya’s Wildlife

Updated: Nov 8, 2023


Young elephants walking past some trees. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Umani Springs Reintegration Unit, learning to live in the wild. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, based in Nairobi, Kenya, is one of the pioneering conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and preservation of wildlife in East Africa. It was founded in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her late husband, David Sheldrick. The pair were prominent conservationists, passionate about protecting and preserving the wildlife of Kenya. Their commitment lives on through the Trust, which utilizes a multi-faceted approach to tackle the challenges wildlife face in the region.


Perhaps most well-known for their work raising orphaned elephants and reintegrating them back into the wild, the Trust’s projects also include habitat protection, anti-poaching units, community education, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict, wildlife veterinary services, and water provisions.

 

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is doing truly incredible work for wildlife and runs a top-notch rehabilitation center that provides sanctuary to animals until they are ready to return to the wild. Unfortunately though, not every “sanctuary” is good. Many people who exploit animals for profit use welfare washing to try to hide their abuse and convince visitors to hand over more money. Be sure to always do your research before visiting any captive wildlife facilities.

 

Raising orphaned animals


Orphaned elephants and rhinos, often victims of poaching, human-wildlife conflict, or natural disasters, are rescued and brought to the Trust's Nairobi Nursery. Daphne Sheldrick's expertise in animal husbandry and her groundbreaking work in hand-rearing orphaned elephants revolutionized the way conservation organizations approach the rescue and rehabilitation of these incredible animals. Based on her model, the animals receive specialized care, including round-the-clock attention, proper nutrition, medical treatment, and emotional support throughout their recovery.


Human carers play a crucial role, helping the animals through the initial grief of losing their mother and other herd members. Carers also accompany the animals on daily bush walks as the babies learn to navigate the world. Playful and curious, both elephants and rhinos benefit from lots of exercise, playtime, and exploring. Orphaned elephants are allowed and encouraged to develop social bonds with each other, mimicking natural social dynamics.


When the animals are ready, usually around age three, the reintroduction process to a wild life begins. For elephants, the process is a bit more straightforward, thanks to their highly social nature. In reintroduction units, which are separate from the nursery and protected by anti-poaching teams, the elephants spend a lot of time interacting with wild herds, making friends and learning about wild elephant behavior. During this process, their carers stay nearby and the animals return to the unit in the evening for protection. The reintegration process is lengthy, and can take 8-12 years before an animal is comfortable and confident enough to remain in the wild full-time.


Rhinos, on the other hand, are much more solitary and territorial, making their reintroduction process a bit different. Keepers walk the calves around the release area to allow them to get familiar with wild residents via a thorough investigation of the territory-marking dung piles and urinals. Eventually, the calf’s stockade doors will be left open at night, allowing them to engage with wild rhinos on their own terms, while having a safe place to return to. Like elephants, it can take years before a rhino moves into full independence from the Trust.


To date, the Trust has raised 316 orphaned elephants and 17 orphaned rhinos. They’ve also seen 55 wild elephants born to reintegrated animals, a very positive sign of success.


Young elephants, some with blankets on their backs to keep them warm. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Jessica Ambuehl
Orphaned elephants at the nursery. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Jessica Ambuehl

The fight against poaching


One of the leading causes of elephant and rhino population decline, and orphaned animals, is poaching. In some cases, the animals are targeted directly; the elephants for their ivory tusks and rhinos for their horns. In other cases, elephants and rhinos become unintended victims of snares and traps set to catch smaller animals.


Poachers use bows and poisoned arrows, guns, spears, and snares to kill or maim animals. In Kenya, the Trust has Anti-Poaching Teams that dismantle and destroy poachers’ hides, shooting platforms, traps and blinds – work that has contributed to a 50% drop in poaching in the Tsavo Conservation Area. This on-the-ground work is also supported by aerial and canine teams, and is carried out in coordination with the Kenya Wildlife Services.


Three men and a dog from the anti-poaching unit posing for a photo. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
The Anti-Poaching Canine Unit. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Providing veterinary support


The Trust has six fully equipped ground-based mobile veterinary units, as well as an air fleet consisting of 8 airplanes and three rapid response helicopters. They respond to a range of wildlife emergencies for any animal in need, treating wounds resulting from snares, arrows, spears, territorial fighting injuries, and disease outbreaks.


In fact, the Trust’s veterinary care is so well-known that wild animals literally show up asking for help.


In July of this year, a wild bull elephant with an arrow wound in his right front leg walked into one of the stockades, accompanied by two now-wild-living orphans. As the bull was darted and received medical treatment, the other elephants stood by calmly, overseeing the procedure. They waited for their friend to wake up and then walked off into the wilderness together. You can read more about this incredible story here.


Aerial view of a helicopter flying above an elephant. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Air Wing in action supporting a veterinary operation to treat an arrowed elephant. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Community engagement and conflict mitigation


Wildlife protection and conservation will never be successful without the support of local communities. The Trust has several programs that educate young people about the value of wildlife in maintaining healthy ecosystems, provide local employment opportunities, and help to mitigate human-wildlife conflict through the implementation of non-lethal deterrents.


As human populations expand into formerly wild areas and historic elephant migration routes are cut off by development, conflicts can arise due to crop raiding, property damage, and elephant injury.


Electrified fencing is one of the main methods of preventing this conflict, by physically keeping elephants separated from highly populated areas and the dangers posed by roadways and trains. These fences serve the dual purpose of also keeping humans with unsavory intentions (e.g. poaching) out of the elephant’s habitat.



Fighting the effects of climate change


Climate change is having devastating impacts on African communities and wildlife. As droughts become more and more common, already-scarce water sources are disappearing, leading to the deaths of hundreds of animals. This disastrous outcome is exacerbated when communities are forced to bring their livestock into the parks to graze, adding competition for food and water. Having so many additional animals on parched lands degrades the soil, making it even harder for the vegetation to recover and perpetuating a downward spiral into desertification.


When nature fails to bring the rain, the Trust is showing up in multiple ways with water for wildlife. From bowsers (20,000-liter tanker trucks) to boreholes, drinking troughs are being filled and underground water tables are being tapped for use. They are also doing daily rounds to manually refill troughs during extreme drought conditions. Coupled with habitat protection and reforestation, the Trust is fighting back against the very real dangers of climate change.


A herd of elephants drinking from a human-made watering hole. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Wild elephants enjoying one of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's water projects. Copyright Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is doing incredible work to protect the wildlife of East Africa. Please take some time to learn more about their programs and consider sending them a donation to help fund these efforts. You can also symbolically adopt an orphaned animal or run a fundraiser of your own to support the Trust’s work.


If you’d like to visit the Nairobi Orphanage, we can help you build this into your safari itinerary and add some incredible memories to your holiday. When you’re ready to start planning, schedule your free 15-minute consultation!


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