Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

More than 4,000 elephants treated – and this chap is one of them. Time was running out until infection set in, the SWT/KWS Southern Vet Unit. Operation complete, the bull woke up and rejoined his friends, who were waiting nearby. Full recovery expected.

Your support helps us save Kenya’s giants.

Kipekee submerges herself completely then heaves onto her feet and crawls out on her belly – usually with a three-nanny entourage watching on. After that? She toddles over for a dust bath. The muddier, the better.

Which photo is your favourite?

swt.bio/kipekee

When our pilot spotted this giraffe, the image was sent straight to our Field Ops HQ. Within hours, our SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Unit was on the ground. The prognosis? Positive: this giraffe lived to roam another day. Every individual saved helps the species – your support makes these responses possible.

Tytan and Notty were rescued a week apart from different parts of Kenya, but for the same unusual reason: both mothers died in cliff falls. The pair became immediate and inseparable friends, and it has been lovely to see them heal and embrace their Nursery life together: swt.bio/tytan

Jasiri now lives wild in the Kibwezi Forest but he hasn't forgotten where he came from. Every so often, he returns to the Stockades – sometimes alone, sometimes with his new family following cautiously behind. This time, they arrived with a tiny newcomer tucked between the adults!

swt.bio/jasiri

Start your week with a rare sight from above – a lion family caught on camera during one of our aerial patrols. Our pilots cover vast stretches of Tsavo, monitoring wildlife and keeping watch over everyone from orphaned elephants to apex predators.

sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/n...

Keeper Joseph takes charge of the camera to capture why the Keepers have christened her "our little frog."

To her, it must feel like the whole world revolves around her whims.

Welcome Korbessa into your life through an adoption: swt.bio/korbessa

Ever wondered what it's like to be an elephant Keeper? Our latest Field Notes just dropped in inboxes and features an exclusive interview with Umani's Keeper Philip, plus a snapshot of last year's dramatic orphan rescues you helped make possible: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...

Wamata was found alone near the Tiva River – in poor condition, clearly without her mother for some time. She had survived on greens, but without milk, she was fading fast. A month after rescue, regular feeds were already working. Today? Chubby-cheeked and confident. swt.bio/wamata

Look closely – a wire snare had wrapped around her ear so tightly it rotted completely. She simply walked into the wrong patch of bush on the wrong day. But help was at hand. Our Mara Vet Unit treated her – and we've seen elephants overcome similar injuries before.

Animal rescue, fight fires, treat an injured buffalo - there is so much more to being an SWT ranger than you might think! From foot patrols to bushcraft and intelligence work, our teams use every skill they have to keep wildlife safe from a wide range of threats: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...

Daba may be our newest Nursery orphan, but he's already making friends – including our resident black rhino. Max is blind, but his other senses are sharp. He always knows when visitors come calling. Nanny Talek chaperones – until she spots a feast of her own. Meet Daba's unique family: swt.bio/daba

Is there anything more wonderful than a pachyderm pile up? Yes, when it involves two calves born to orphans we’ve reintegrated. Zigi and Sulwe are among 91 tiny trunks born as a direct result of our Orphans’ Project – meet this next generation: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o...

If you've ever been on safari, you'll know how rare and special a leopard sighting can be. These incredible leopard sightings were taken by our pilots on aerial patrol - some 60m above in the skies. Keen eyesight is essential when these elusive big cats wear some of the finest camouflage in nature.

A smattering of scenes from our Nursery of late… Elephant sandwiches with Mzinga and Talek ensure baby Kipekee is surrounded by love, stockade snuggles between Tytan the rhino and Notty the zebra, and Olomunyak saving some for later.

Which is your favourite and why?

There's something about little brothers – always trying to get one over.

Sulwe and Lenny grew up side by side at Umani. Their mothers, Lima Lima and Sonje, were orphaned as infants. Now they're wild mothers themselves. Proof that rescue works.

sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/d...

Our newest rescued giraffe, Pips, likes to tail her Keepers around Kaluku. When a chore takes them further afield, they've devised a clever stopgap – hanging a jacket on her favourite tree so she can browse 'accompanied' by a comforting scent.

Learn more about Pips: swt.bio/pips

Twenty-five years ago, Nasalot was a traumatised poaching orphan who would only sleep during daylight. Today, she's a mother of three living wild – here with newborn Nala – and look who's in tow. That's Naleku, our Mara rescue from 2020, taking on babysitting duties with: swt.bio/nasalot

Our SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Units cover thousands of kilometres each year – treating arrow wounds, freeing animals from snares, responding to drought emergencies. Working hand in hand with our aerial and ground teams, they're often the only hope for wildlife in distress: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...

The call came in: a white rhino bull had been spotted with a wire snare cutting into his left hind limb. Just 15,750 individuals remain in the wild – every one counts. Our SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Unit cut away the wire so he could roam free once more.

Your donations help make it possible. Thank you.

There's more to this scene than meets the eye! asiri (the darker elephant) and Ziwa are two rescued orphans now living wild with a local family – and still return for impromptu visits with their new herd in tow.

Do you have a favourite reintegrated orphan?

The tallest animal can be felled by the smallest arrow – but not if our SWT/KWS Mobile Vets get there first. Giraffe numbers have declined 40% in three decades. Every individual saved matters.

Have you seen our vets in action?

From tiny antelope to elephants – we respond to all. This duiker was found alone by herders. Our pilot flew him to our Kaluku Field HQ nestled on his lap for the journey. Safe, secure, loved, the tiny animal will be hand-raised and, eventually, reintegrated into the wild.

Sagala nailed her newborn's debut! After giving birth, she headed to our Voi stockades. The orphans gathered round, trunks outstretched towards their tiny 'cousin.' Sagala is now living wild, she remains deeply boned to the people who raised her for the better part of a decade. swt.bio/sagala

Snares don't discriminate. Set for bushmeat, they trap any animal in their path. Our SWT/KWS Vet Units treat the victims – but we're tackling it at source too. 29 anti-poaching teams on daily patrol seized 13,978 snares last year. See our impact: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.o...

Nanny duties at Umani: breaking up scuffles, escorting babies, blocking Kapei when he's too rough – and being a climbing frame for Lenny, Zigi, Sulwe and Mwana.

Enkesha is the epitome of patience.

Her story: swt.bio/enkesha

Ready, Steady, Go!

Our Voi herd racing for their midday milk – ears flapping, trunks waving. Hildana, Ashanti, Kanderi, Dabida and Baraka run down in groups, as Keepers only have so many hands.

Give the gift of milk: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/s...

Sometimes, the only way around is over.

Little Wamata has already overcome a major life hurdle – and no fence will stop her now. With ingenuity, a dash of yoga and lots of determination, she made it to the tasty greens on the other side.

Her story: swt.bio/wamata

Lima Lima has her own family now, including a son. But she's never forgotten her human family.

When buffalo trapped Keepers at the stockade gate, she emerged from the bushes and trumpeted until they scattered.

More stories: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/n...

When you know Pips' story, moments like this – calm and at ease with Keeper Justus – mean everything.

Rescued from Tsavo after her mother was likely killed by lions, she hid from rescuers for hours. With patience, we earned her trust.

Her journey: swt.bio/pips