Notty has been branching out, mingling more and more with the residents of Nairobi National Park’s forest. Games of chase with orphaned elephants Wamata, Arthi and Daba have been the order of the day. They were slightly more willing playmates than the herd of impala who – to no ones surprise except Notty’s – didn’t run from the zebra! Rescued after her mother fatally fell from a cliff, she is growing up at our Nursery until she is ready to return to the wild.

What’s a girl to do when the bossy big girls won’t let Talek get a look in with the babies? Lie down on the forest floor, wave her trunk about, and invite the cheekier members of the herd to play! Arthi couldn’t resist. Given half a chance (when Mzinga allows), Talek shows a real nurturing side. We know her time will come eventually. It was the kindness of a huge bull that probably saved her life, after he let the lone orphan tag along in the Mara wilderness, home to plenty of opportunistic big cats. But since he couldn’t provide the milk she needed to survive, we were asked to rescue her. She’s been with us ever since and will stay until she’s ready to rejoin the wild. Adopt Talek: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

A heavily pregnant bushbuck, caught in a snare. Had she gone undiscovered, she and her unborn fawn would not have survived. On a morning patrol, our Meru Anti-Poaching Team found her trapped but still alive. Working quickly, they cut her free, gave her some time to gather herself, and then watched her dash off into the wilderness. Our 30 Anti-Poaching Teams, run in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service, patrol key habitats across Kenya, and every snare they find can save an animal’s life – or two. If you’re in a position to give, please consider supporting our field teams: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/d…

As they say, it takes a village. When the indefatigable Lenny (finally!) got tired and settled down for a nap, the whole herd circled in to watch over him. Truth be told, everyone was probably thrilled to have a few quiet moments while their most energetic member rested! Lenny is a ‘grandchild’ of our Orphans’ Project: his mother was orphaned when she was just a baby herself and raised in our care. Now, she and her peers are all grown up and nurturing their own families in the wild. Meet the 95 known babies born to our Orphans’ Project: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

A sight we’ll never tire of. Our ex-orphans came to visit on Sunday, and Nesheshi had the honour of leading the herd. Hers was one of our most challenging rescues. After her mother was shot and killed, she very nearly wasted away, and reaching her meant airlifting her in a customised sling beneath our helicopter from a remote corner of Laikipia. This video is why we moved heaven and earth to save her: we could give her the family and support she needed to survive and return to the wild. And she has. Discover her story: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

A month in the cockpit with our pilots. Which scene from the skies is your favourite? We started with a single aircraft. Today our Air Wing includes helicopters and fixed-wing planes, and it has become the backbone of our conservation work – vital for veterinary interventions, monitoring and even rescues. This is conservation in action: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/n…

Ashanti’s name means strength, courage and resilience. She has needed all three to survive. First, a poacher’s snare severed her trunk, cutting off the ‘fingers’ that let African elephants forage so dextrously. She was especially vulnerable growing up at the height of a drought. Then she got completely stuck in mud. Her herd couldn’t save her – but, thankfully, our rangers found her in the nick of time. Now she is one of our ‘Voi kids’, a group of orphans all rescued during the drought and growing up surrounded by love and support. Ashanti has adapted marvellously to life with a shortened trunk. She still relies on our care, but we’re optimistic she will thrive in the wild one day. You can play an important part in her story by adopting her: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

From stuck in the mud to starting her own family: meet Ithumbah. Sixteen years ago, our Ithumba team found a young calf trapped in a drying dam. Caked in thick grey mud, she was almost invisible – it’s a miracle she was spotted. Today, that same elephant is living wild and is the mother of two beautiful daughters. Ithumbah grew up in our care before reclaiming her place among Tsavo’s elephants. She gave birth to her first baby, Iman, in 2022, and Iris followed last November. Though they lead entirely wild lives, Ithumbah and her girls still visit our Ithumba Reintegration Unit – our second photo was taken just a few days ago. The bonds of elephant family extend to the people who raised her. Your support helped make her journey back to the wild possible. Learn more: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Watch out, Amali – Latika is keen to take your mantle as top nanny! Latika, our girl with the short trunk and big heart, is really starting to shine. She only graduated to Umani in December and, being a shy elephant, took time to find her place in the herd. Now she is one of the family, loving her new nannying duties. She has a soft spot for Lenny – and the lovable little rogue is certainly putting her through her paces! It’s a miracle Latika is with us at all. She was rescued with a snare wrapped tightly around her neck and struggled with poor health for a long time. Now she is thriving at our Umani Springs Reintegration Unit. Discover Latika’s story and support her through an adoption: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

Medwine went head-to-head with another bull rhino and came off worse. Territorial fights are a normal part of rhino life, but the wound to his head needed attention – enter our SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit. KWS vet Dr Aminga darted him and, with support from Partakilat Conservancy staff, the team eased him into position for treatment. The wound was deep but had caused no lasting damage and was soon tended to. Medwine ambled off to a nearby salt lick, battle-scarred but none the worse for wear. His is one of 15,429 cases our veterinary teams have attended, in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service. Has a treatment of an injured wild animal stuck with you? Tell us below.

What does a happy elephant sound like? Turn up the volume and find out. Elephants put the ‘happy’ in reunion. Wild herds erupt into joyous trumpets and trunk hugs when a long-absent loved one returns, and our orphans do the same. When Keeper Joseph came back from leave, Kaikai and Bungalu were beyond elated, greeting him with rumbles and trunk hugs. Both calves lost their mothers, and little Bungalu even survived a lion attack. Raised by Keepers like Joseph, they will one day reclaim their place in the wild. Discover their rescue stories and support their journeys by adopting: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

There are 95 little reasons to be hopeful for the future of Africa’s elephants walking around Tsavo. Sia is one of them. She may be a little girl now, but when she is all grown up and raising babies of her own, she will still be standing side by side with her mother, ex-orphan Sagala. Elephants are a matriarchal species, which means that females form lifelong family units. Sia’s parentage is what makes her story extra special. We know who her father is, having witnessed her parents’ courtship – none other than our ex-orphan Laikipia: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/n…

We always knew there was a quiet, cheeky side to Daba, just waiting to blossom. Hide-and-seek, wrestling, and games of chase put him in the spotlight of our Keepers’ Diaries last month – and not always for good behaviour! This time, Mzinga photobombed him and took the wind out of his sails, and he slunk off to find mischief elsewhere. At 20 months old, Daba is the youngest bull being cared for at our Nairobi Nursery. His story with us began with a routine morning training patrol, when our Canine Unit tracked a small calf wandering by himself. By evening, he was alone no more, rescued and receiving intensive care from our Keepers: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

Bungalu has recently unveiled a little habit 🍼 When he arrives for his milk bottle – always at a steady, determined plod – he delicately twists the fingers of his trunk around the handle, almost as one might grasp a teacup. Though he isn’t yet strong enough to hold a full bottle by himself, by the time he has guzzled most of its contents, he can hold the bottle aloft unaided. Look how proud he looks! A survivor of storms, lion attacks, and several weeks on his own, Bungalu now has the round-the-clock care, companionship, and love he needs to grow up strong and, one day, return to the wild. Find out how you can support him through an adoption: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…

It’s an Umani pool party and everyone is invited! Ex-orphan Sonje even brought a potential wild bull suitor along, although he kept his distance while everyone had a good swim. Spot matriarch Murera in the background with her broken tusk – she is due her second calf any day now and took pains to give the visitor a wide berth, roping in youngsters Kerrio and Kiasa to be part of an early warning system if the suitor changed direction. Meet our extraordinary herd that lives here, made up of still-dependent youngsters, older orphans who roam wild, and a growing number of wild-born babies. Follow our Umani orphans in the Keepers’ Diaries at: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/k…

Lemeki and Thamana have decided the bowser is their own personal fountain. In the dry season, every drop matters – and just like the bowser here at Voi, our water bowsers are out daily, delivering life-saving water to wildlife. Behind each load is a team of drivers and mechanics, a network of borehole-fed troughs, keeping the water flowing, and our donors who fund it all: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/p…

African wild dogs view raising pups as a community effort. While it’s the dominant female that gives birth, the rest of the pack takes on babysitting duties or stands sentry outside. Once pups are old enough to venture into the wider world, they are communally and lovingly raised to adulthood by the pack. All being well, they can live upwards of 10 years. We believe protecting these incredible animals is a team effort too. Our Air Wing and SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams patrol tirelessly to keep their habitat safe from human threats, and should a pack member need it, veterinary help can be immediately mobilised. You play a part too – donations help fund these vital projects to protect entire landscapes and endangered species. Learn more about our work: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

Have you met Nyambeni? If you tuned into Sesame Street’s special episode at our Nairobi Nursery, you’ll know her as Elmo’s adopted elephant. Here’s a little more about her: She came to us in 2022, a tiny calf found stuck and abandoned in a ditch by a farmer. Our Keepers call her a ‘kali mama’ – fiery but nurturing – and she’s one of the naughtiest members of our Nursery herd. She does what she wants, when she wants, and makes her own rules. These are some glimpses of her growing up. Now a sturdy four-year-old, she’s still every bit as determined. Like Elmo, you can adopt Nyambeni and support her journey back to the wild: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o… If you missed the episode on PBS, you can stream it here: youtu.be/POfkHAwBjWM

If you love catching up with our orphans’ news here, our Keepers’ Diaries offer the next step into our wild world. Last month included yet another elephant romance at Umani, Alia shone as a nanny at the Nairobi Nursery and lots of familiar faces returned to our Ithumba and Voi Reintegration Units. Current adopters, Bombi wants to know – what was your favourite story from last month’s Keepers’ Diaries? Want to adopt an orphan and get more of their stories? Discover how here: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/o…