Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
The Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro (Greater Amboseli) ecosystem in East Africa is an extraordinarily biodiverse landscape and home to many threatened wildlife species, including its elephant population. It is vital that animals can move freely through this ecosystem: an estimated 80% of wildlife migrate from the national park each year to dispersal areas in community lands.
However, the region is facing a crisis due to a prolonged and relentless two-year drought that has been ravaging Kenya.
The scarcity of essential resources like food and water has led to an escalation of human-wildlife conflict, which has affected local communities and wildlife alike.
In an effort to safeguard this vital ecosystem and its wildlife, the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation joint forces with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Kenyan Wildlife Service.
Murera, a gentle giant, a proud mother. Murera was found severely injured in 2009 and was moved to the Umani Springs Reintegration Unit, founded 2014. Umani Springs rests beneath the protective branches of Kibwezi Forest, one of Kenya's last remaining groundwater woodlands. It was established for the most vulnerable and physically impaired elephants. Murera gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Mwana in 2023.
Enkesha (first image), now eight years old, during the 6 am morning feeding at Umani Springs Reintegration Unit. She became a snare victim when her trunk got trapped in a wire cable. She was rescued by the Sheldrick Trust / Kenya Wildlife Service Mobile Veterinary Unit teams just before half her trunk was completely cut off.
The Mobile Veterinary Units, operated by SWT in partnership with the Kenyan Wildlife Service, respond to wildlife emergencies from snares, spears, arrows, and gunshot wounds to injuries caused by the human-wildlife conflict. Each team is led by a KWS veterinarian and includes KWS capture rangers and a Sheldrick Wildlife Trust driver.
In this case, the wild elephant fell victim to a failed poaching attack and was injured in its leg through a spear. Thankfully, the elephant survived and recovered well from narcosis through swift action and highly precise medical care.
These images were taken at the Ithumba Reintegration Unit, where dozens of orphaned elephants have been successfully reintegrated into the wild since its establishment in 2004.
It is located in the vast northern sector of Tsavo East, a place completely untouched by mankind. Benjamin Kyalo (fifth image), who has worked there for 18 years, and his team currently look after 38 dependent orphans.
Each day, Keepers prepare warm bottles for the still milk-dependent elephants before they lead them out into the wilds of Tsavo for the day.
At 11 am sharp, the orphaned elephants emerge from the thick bush, ready for their daily mud bath.
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