A tiny elephant calf is now safe and receiving expert care thanks to a rapid community-led response and the collaborative efforts of conservation teams in Kenya.
The story begins in the Mara, where a local herder was tending to his livestock one morning. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he found a young elephant calf sheltering among the animals. The calf was weak and tired, and with no mother in sight, the herder wisely contacted the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) for help.
MEP, together with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), immediately launched an urgent aerial and ground search for the mother, hoping the pair could be reunited.
Sadly, their worst fears were confirmed when the calf’s mother was found nearby, having died of natural causes.
The operation now became a rescue — and time was critical. At just two months old, the calf was visibly exhausted and in urgent need of care.
Using a helicopter, the team airlifted the calf to a nearby airstrip, where he was collected and transferred to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) elephant nursery in Nairobi — the most successful elephant orphanage in the world. Here, the expert team can provide round-the-clock care and rehabilitation.
At Explorers Against Extinction, we are proud to support both MEP and SWT in their vital work. In 2017, we donated $25,000 to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and partnered with them to host an event for their 40th anniversary celebrations. More recently, in 2022, we teamed up with MEP to help fund their Elephant-Friendly Farm initiative in the Greater Mara.
This rescue is a powerful reminder of how swift action and collaboration can give vulnerable wildlife a second chance.
Images: MEP
