Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Experience Jumbo Love at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. Quite a memorable and nostalgic place to visit, you will like it.

Africa is famous for its magnificent wildlife. Gracing the savannas of Africa is the big and powerful elephant.

Not only does the African elephant rock the savanna, but also attracts many tourists from all over the world.

Despite the input of its presence in the economy, poachers have taken to selling elephant tusks to the black market.

This leaves baby elephants vulnerable and at risk of premature deaths.

In light of these unfortunate events, the Wildlife Trust resorted to saving abandoned baby elephants and wounded elephants.

The trust makes your East Africa Safari a memorable one.

History of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was founded in 1977 by Daphne Sheldrick. In addition, It was established in honor of her late spouse, David Sheldrick

Well, the family name has been a point of reference for many wildlife enthusiasts.

Previously branded the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, wildlife conservatives renamed it the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust after Daphne’s demise in 2018.

David was a pioneer warden in the Tsavo East National Park, an area currently used for elephant rehabilitation.

In addition, he facilitated the rehabilitation of numerous wildlife species together with his wife.

Daphne found a profound interest in studying animal diets for orphaned infant elephants.

Her discovery of the coconut milk formula provided a nutrition foundation for the animal infants that later graced the grounds of the Wildlife Trust.

Their mutual passion for wildlife conservation inspired Daphne to conserve elephants in the East African region.

The fear of elephant extinction was fueled by the rampant cases of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts.

Daphne managed the trust with her daughter Angela Sheldrick in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mission and activities

The primary mission for establishing the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was to save elephants from extinction as a result of poaching activities and human-wildlife conflict.

Poachers invade national parks to kill elephants and rhinos for their tusks.

Human-wildlife conflict occurs when elephants invade farms and destroy food crops.

In retaliation, the aggravated humans sought after the animals and kill them hence leaving the baby elephants orphaned.

Young elephants and rhinos are the most susceptible to injuries in the wild as poachers lay traps to catch elephants.

As such, the organization takes up the responsibility of hand-rearing them into adulthood.

When the rescued animals are healthy and fit to survive on their own, they are released into the wild.

Aside from elephant care, the Wildlife Trust is keen on:

  • Promoting overall wildlife safety in the wild,
  • Improving community awareness on peaceful co-existence with wildlife,
  • Rescuing vulnerable wildlife,
  • Conserving the natural environment and
  • Curbing wildlife poaching

The organization enlightens the community on the importance of elephants in boosting the country’s economy.

The Rehabilitation Process

The team at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust goes to every region in Kenya to find orphaned and wounded elephants.

The organization partners with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service to reach out to all parks and game reserves in Kenya.

Salvaged animals often present with physical and emotional trauma. At the Trust, infant elephants are fed with the milk formula originally designed by Daphne Sheldrick.

Critical rehabilitation occurs in the Nairobi National Park where the organization has a specially designed nursery for orphaned elephants.

Trained caregivers provide the baby elephants with a comfortable environment to grow and heal emotionally.

From the nursery, the elephants are moved to either Umani Re-integration Springs, Ithumba in Tsavo, or Voi National Park for further rehabilitation.

When the animals achieve full recovery, they are allowed to join other elephant herds.

Accomplishments of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has managed to nurture over 200 infant elephants to maturity.

About 100 elephants have been absorbed into herds in the Tsavo East National Park and most of these elephants have reproduced calves while in the wild.

The organization employs a good number of skilled personnel to care for the animals and to help man game reserves.

The trust has ground surveillance units, aerial surveillance units, and veterinary units at all critical game reserves in the country.

All the teams are fully equipped with tracking gear, medical supplies, and vehicles to maneuver in the wild in search of wounded and abandoned baby elephants.

In the quest to keep the Sheldrick wildlife trust in full operation, a foster program is in place to engage wildlife enthusiasts in protecting the environment and preserving wildlife through donations.

East Africa Safari participants are encouraged to take part in the foster program to conserve the country’s wildlife and heritage.

Visiting the Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust attracts both local and international tourists and you should make sure you are one of them this year.

As a spot for viewing nature’s magnificence, the center is highly regarded as a serene and inspirational zone.

Visitors are enchanted by the view of baby elephants feeding and taking mud baths.

In light of these activities, it is recommended to visit the place around midday.

At Zunguka Africa Safaris, we ensure that your wildlife safari is filled with the best experiences mother nature has to offer.

For bookings, contact us to secure a slot as we visit Kenya’s finest animal rehabilitation center.

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