Sheldrick
WILDLIFE TRUST
Newsletter - 2024
T abl e o f C ontents OVERVIEW FOR 2024
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ORPHANS’ PROJECT
8
Nairobi Nursery
9 - 15
Voi Reintegration Unit
16 -23
Ithumba Reintegration Unit
24 -31
Umani Springs Reintegration Unit
32-39
Kaluku Unit
40 - 49
2024 Elephant Rescues
50 -53
2024 Wild-Born Babies
54 - 67
Rhino Update
68 - 73
MOBILE VETERINARY UNITS
74 - 81
Notes From the Field: Our Most Complex Rescue Operation Yet
82 - 85
Notes From the Field: Mission to Rescue a Mother Elephant From a Well
86 - 87
ANTI-POACHING TEAMS
88 - 97
Canine Unit
98 - 102
Notes From the Field: Fire Season
103
AERIAL OPERATIONS
104 - 115
SAVING HABITATS
116 - 120
Galana & Kulalu Ranches / Galana Wildlife Conservancy
121 - 122
KARI Ranch
123
Kibwezi Forest Reserve & Chyulu Hills
124 - 127
Peregrine Conservation Area
128 - 130
Amu Ranch
130 - 133
Arabuko Sokoke Forest
133 - 134
Maasai Mara National Reserve
135 - 137
Mau Forest
137 - 139
Meru Rhino Sanctuary
139 - 141
Mount Kenya
142 - 143
Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
144 - 145
WATER FOR WILDLIFE
146 - 149
SUPPORT FOR THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE
150
Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation
151
Fencelines
151 -152
Operational and Infrastructure Support
153 -155
Notes From the Field: Moving a Mother Elephant and Her Calves to Safety
156 -157
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
158
Community Hospital Donation
159
Food Distribution Program
160
Chyulu Water Catchment Project
160
School Trips
160
Student Scholarships
161
Community Tree Donations
161
School Donations
162
Beehives and Beehive Fencelines
162
Community Petal Project
162 -163
ECO LODGES
164 - 167
SPECIAL THANKS
168 -169
ov erv i e w for 2 02 4
2024 was a good year. After several long and difficult drought years, nature was kind to us. Rains fell generously, bringing much relief to wildlife and the communities who live alongside them. The emerald green that had eluded Tsavo for so long returned in vibrant force. Acacia and Ipomoea went into full bloom, birds sang and swooped, elephants were busy creating new life. The natural world knows that periods of bounty are finite and must never be taken for granted. Besides the visual spectacle, the usual barometers also confirmed it was a good year: Orphan rescues were down, as were wildlife deaths and widespread poaching activity. These are signs of favourable times, to be sure, but also the direct result of sweat equity put in by our teams.
Meanwhile, our Mobile Veterinary Units prevent countless fatalities each year. Answering the call by ground or by air, their rapid response saves wild lives big and small. In 2024 alone, our Vet Units attended to more than 2,000 animals, which averages out to five patients a day. These are not small-scale check-ups, but outsidethe-box treatments that require great dedication and resources.
Through their daily patrols and targeted operations, our Anti-Poaching Teams and Aerial Unit are driving a dramatic reduction in illegal activities in protected areas. This is particularly apparent in vast landscapes like Galana and Kulalu Ranches, which were rife with bushmeat poaching and illegal grazing as recently as last year.
And then there are also the people who work across Kenya to support our wider conservation mission — those fighting bushfires, leading community field trips,
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monitoring fencelines, distributing food and supplies to local schools, clearing important conservation routes, cooking meals, and driving teams. These dedicated conservationists play an equally important role in our field-level impact.
Not so long ago, it was a momentous year when one or perhaps two ex-orphans delivered wild-born babies. In 2014, for instance, we welcomed just one new grandbaby into the fold. Each successive year has brought progressively more grandkids. This year alone, we were introduced to eleven newborn grandbabies.
Of course, even ‘good’ years have their challenges. One unexpected theme of 2024 was the spate of elephants, particularly mothers and their babies, trapped in wells and dams. Extracting a full-grown wild elephant — along with the frantic, vulnerable baby by her side — from a remote location is a prodigious undertaking. Fortunately, we have the capacity and skills to carry out these extraordinary missions. Thanks to the ingenuity and commitment of our team, 23 elephants were rescued from watery prisons over the course of the year.
We felt this keenly in Umani Springs, which was established just ten years ago. Mirroring what we have already seen at our other Reintegration Units, the greatest testament to Umani’s success is its growing family tree. Murera, Umani’s founding matriarch, gave birth to the unit’s first grandbaby last year. As 2024 drew to a close, Lima Lima and Sonje added their own branches in the form of calves Lenny and Sulwe. This is just the beginning of a baby boom already unfolding at Voi and Ithumba. A decade ago, Umani Springs didn’t exist. Now, it is home to a thriving herd and nurturing the next generation of elephants.
Our Orphans’ Project continues to bring us pride and satisfaction beyond our wildest dreams. Every orphan we rescue is an enormous commitment. A young elephant matures at a similar rate of a human child, and to bring them up successfully requires a similarly weighty investment of time, resources, and emotional guidance. None of this would be possible without our incredible Keepers, who shepherd the orphans through their fragile infancy and into adulthood.
Beyond our orphan herd, Kenya’s elephants are faring well. While African elephants are under siege across the continent, our country has emerged as a stronghold for the species. Threats remain — and grave ones, at that — but we feel fortunate to be in a place that values its natural heritage and allows us to do the important work needed to secure their future.
The early 2000s brought an influx of orphans into our care, most of whom were left motherless by the catastrophic ivory poaching crisis. Now, these elephants are grown and living wild, leading herds, and starting their own families. Many are mothers several times over; some are even grandmothers. Crucially, they are raising their offspring in a much safer environment than the one into which they were born. While threats remain, ivory poaching has drastically declined in Kenya, which is a credit to the efforts of boots on the ground, eyes in the skies, and global support.
As you turn the pages of this newsletter, know that it is donors like you who make these stories possible. We had a robust year, and none of it would have been possible without your support. Thank you for turning our conservation mission into a reality.
Most gratefully, Angela Sheldrick
When we rewilded our first orphaned elephants, we never could have anticipated just how connected they would remain with us. After an orphan transitions from our care, they have Kenya’s greatest wilderness at their feet and are free to lead a life entirely of their choosing. And still, nearly every single ex-orphan elephant mother opts to make the pilgrimage ‘home’ when they give birth to a new baby. Our orphans always see the Keepers who raised them as family — and in elephant society, family celebrates life’s greatest milestones together.
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OR P H A N S ’ P RO J E C T 322 orphaned elephants successfully raised 19 orphaned rhinos successfully raised 83 dependent or semi-independent orphaned elephants 70 babies born to wild-living orphaned elephants
2024
o r phans ’ p r o j e ct snapsh o t : 2 orphaned elephants rescued in 2024 11 wild ‘grandbabies’ born to ex-orphans in 2024 4 orphans graduated to Reintegration Units in 2024
na i r o b i n u r s e r y 22 milk-dependent orphaned elephants 2 orphaned rhinos The new year began with a face-off: One morning, Kamili awoke with an axe to grind with Weka, who sleeps in the neighbouring stockade. The no-nonsense girl walked out of her room, turned to the left and pushed the naughty girl to the ground. While we are very clued into the orphans’ daily dramas, nighttime is another story — something must have passed between them overnight! In February, we set ourselves up for the challenge of weighing the orphans on the elephant scale outside the stockades. It was Valentine’s Day and in keeping with the holiday, we offered everyone a sweet sugarcane treat in exchange for their cooperation. (The scale is essentially a flat platform on ground level, and the orphans clamber all over it in the course of their daily games, but they seemed to sense that today was different.) While Mzinga and Nyambeni walked obediently onto the scale, Loldaiga, Sholumai, Mushuru, Weka, Mageno, and Sileita had other ideas. They padded on the scales, gobbled down the sugar cane, and made a speedy exit before their weights could be recorded. Mission unaccomplished, we resolved to try again another time.
After a few days recovering in his stable, Olomunyak was ready for his big debut with the Nursery herd. Kerrio, Nyambeni, Mzinga, Taroha, and Muridjo escorted the new rescue out into the forest. Kerrio did not leave his side for the whole day, while Sileita and Latika also went out of their way to welcome him. Intrigued, Mageno tried to push the girls away so he could get close to his new ‘little brother.’ Olomunyak behaved calmly and quietly. March marked Taroha’s first rescueversary. He arrived at the Nursery in very poor health and struggled to gain condition. But one year on, he has come far in terms of health and spirit. Further demonstrating his improvement, Taroha surprised us all one afternoon by being the only orphan who chose to wallow. As the others milled around, he waddled into the water and paddled around. The Keepers had a hard time persuading him to leave when it was time to return to the forest!
On 9th March, we welcomed our first new rescue of the year. The young orphan had been discovered on his own by Mara Elephant Project and Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Enkuyianai area of the Maasai Mara. His saga likely began the month prior, after several mysterious elephant deaths were reported in the area. Given the timing, we can assume that the calf’s mother was among the deceased.
Muridjo and Shujaa were rescued a few weeks apart in 2022 and remain very good friends. They have similarly spunky personalities and are known as the champion divers at the Nursery — they love the mud bath. One April afternoon, they were having a grand time wallowing together when Shujaa tried to climb atop Muridjo. She trumpeted in annoyance, bringing his mountaineering to an end. The imp that he is, Shujaa couldn’t resist an opportunity to attempt his favourite game, but he also respects Muridjo’s authority.
At just 12 months old, the little orphan was lucky to have survived on his own for as long as he did — particularly given that he was found in the periphery of the famed Enkuyianai pride of lions, who were watching him with great interest. It felt very fitting to name him Olomunyak, which means ‘lucky’ in the Maa language.
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Sholumai, who was rescued last April, came to us as an older orphan. She is very independent and, unlike many senior girls, shows little interest in nannying. Instead, she prefers to do her own thing and browse further afield. The Keepers let her enjoy her private excursions, always keeping an eye out to ensure that she does not wander too far. Every orphan has unique likes and dislikes. As a stormy May night reminded us, Mukutan really hates thunder and lightning. The poor bull spent the entire night trumpeting, pacing, and pushing on his gate. Two Keepers did their best to calm him, with some success. As soon as the sky began to lighten, they let Mukutan out of his stockade, knowing he would be happier in the open. The effect was immediate: Mukutan wandered around the compound, greeting the rest of the herd who were content to remain in their dry rooms a bit longer. Following in the footsteps of all the boisterous bulls who came before him, Pardamat is currently the Nursery’s chief pest. The naughty boy’s favourite pastimes include demanding extra bottles and play-mounting the girls. He is incorrigible! As Nursery’s senior matriarch, Sileita is respected by all. Thus, everyone was shocked when Pardamat dared to give Sileita a big shove from behind one afternoon. Outraged, the matriarch knocked him down and stood over him, while he squirmed and trumpeted in alarm. Sileita’s reaction may have seemed harsh, but the little boy really overstepped the mark and will think again before repeating such a misdeed. Talek and Pardamat are good friends but they are also famous for their evening feuds. Their disagreements usually start for no good reason, but on one particularly heated evening, the argument began when Pardamat caught Talek stealing his branches. Seeking revenge, Pardamat grabbed Talek’s trunk and jammed it into his mouth. Talek screamed, which sent a Keeper running over to intervene. The battle ended, but the war continued: Throughout the night, the two troublemakers continued to egg each other on. At one point, their Keeper caught them standing on their shared stable wall, headbutting one another. July was Kamili’s month. It has been nearly three years since her rescue — years marked by health struggles and close shaves — but finally we can celebrate our hardwon success story. And no one is celebrating more than Kamili! We are starting to see glimmers of a fun-loving, friendly elephant within.
One day, Kamili had the most marvellous time chasing warthogs with Nyambeni and Weka. She used to avoid boisterous mud baths, but she has even started paddling into the water with her friends. On a very special morning, she charged out of her bedroom and boldly challenged the big bulls to a wrestling match. Kamili has reached a state of health which none of us dared hope was possible. Now, it is wonderful to see her embracing life with both tusks. Mageno and Weka have appointed themselves ‘town criers’ for every milk feed. They love to announce their arrival as they run to the feeding area, which doubles as a way to check if their friend has beaten them there. When one trumpets on their way in, the other will answer with an equally loud blast, and so it goes until bottles are in their mouths. Muwingu is very caring yet also very mischievous. In July, she debuted a special new trick: On her way down to the midday milk feed, she first made sure that she had a muddy trunk. Then, she ambled up to a Keeper — who, to add insult to injury, was waiting with a bottle aloft for her to enjoy — and wiped her trunk on his dust coat. Feeling particularly cheeky, she took this trick to the next level and squirted a trunkful of mud on the appreciative visitors. August marked Kerrio’s third rescueversary. The strong leader we see today is unrecognisable from the frail, frightened calf we rescued three years ago. Kerrio has blossomed into a healthy, caring girl and a wonderful leader, beloved by all. Interestingly for a mini matriarch — who are typically quite serious and studious by nature — Kerrio also has a fantastic fun side and really enjoys sparring with the boys. We call Maxwell the black rhino our Nursery patriarch. Because he is blind, he would not survive in the wild, so he has a forever home with us. Now a stately 18 years old, Maxwell is a great favourite of all the Nursery residents. On their way into the forest, the orphaned elephants often stop at his gate to say hello and massage his ears with their trunks. When they carry on, it’s only a matter of time before the wild warthogs converge on his stockade. One morning, we even spotted a little piglet napping against the massive rhino’s belly. September brought great sadness to our Nursery herd. Following a long decline, and despite our very best efforts, Mokogodo passed away on 3rd September. The vets concluded that she was suffering from an insidious case of milk intolerance and malabsorption. It was a devastating loss, but we take comfort in the knowledge
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In the face of heartbreak, we must take cues from elephants and focus on the living - for there will always be more orphans in need of our care and support
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that Mokogodo only knew love and happiness during her time with us. She was a very special elephant and we will always cherish the time we had with her. In the face of heartbreak, we must take cues from elephants and focus on the living — for there will always be more orphans in need of our love and support. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before another little elephant entered our midst. On 12th September, our pilot discovered a one-year-old orphan alone in Tsavo. She was weak, forlorn, and had clearly been without her family for some time. The SWT helicopter delivered the youngster to Nairobi, where she was ushered into a stable between Nyambeni and Shujaa. We named her Wamata. A week after her rescue, Wamata joined the herd for the first time. Kerrio and Keeper Peter coaxed the shy young girl out of her stable with gentle rumbles (Kerrio) and a bottle of milk (Peter). Kerrio, Nyambeni, Mzinga, Olomunyak, and Taroha then escorted the newbie into the forest, where the rest of the orphan herd welcomed her with an outpouring of love. From that day forward, Wamata has been one of the gang. She can usually be found browsing with her adoring nannies. On 23rd September, the second rescue of the month arrived at the Nursery. This was a very serious case: a very young male, grievously wounded in a lion attack. The Keepers offloaded him from the SWT helicopter and brought him into a quiet stable, where we immediately set about treating his injuries. We named the little calf Askari, in honour of the valour he had shown. Incredibly — and totally unprompted — Mzinga and Nyambeni chose to put their own days on hold to look after Askari. They would only take their milk by his side and refused to join the rest of the herd for mud baths, so dedicated were they to their little charge. The girls refused to go into their stables until they saw him safely inside his room (which sat between theirs) and continued to check on him through the night. It was humbling to witness their complete and total devotion. Given the extent of his injuries, it was always going to be an uphill battle to save Askari. We did everything we could but on 22nd October, his body admitted defeat and he died peacefully. Mzinga and Nyambeni were subdued for the remainder of the day, accepting the loss. Latika wasn’t so quick to recover from the loss of her adopted baby, Mokogodo. For many weeks, she remained withdrawn and shunned the other babies. But midOctober, we had a breakthrough. As soon as she was let out of her stockade, Latika darted down to Olomunyak and Taroha’s bedrooms. They toddled out, she
scooped them up (so enthusiastically that they seemed overwhelmed at first) and then carried onto Wamata’s room. Latika ushered the three babies to the forest and spent the whole morning fussing over them. From that morning forward, she was back to her old, nurturing self. Mushuru is an orphan of opposites. She is the only big girl who loves to play pushing games with the boys, but she is also a caring older sister, especially to Olomunyak and Wamata. She is either found cavorting with the bulls or fussing over her favourite babies. November was a difficult month for Raha, our little black rhino. On 10th November, quite unexpectedly, she suffered a prolapse in her rectum. When we rescued Raha in 2022, predators had mauled her rear end. Painstaking veterinary intervention rebuilt the area, and it had been well over a year since her last prolapse. This latest development marked a significant setback. Our vet acted quickly to perform surgery on her rectum, which was successful but the road ahead for Raha remains complicated. She is extremely reluctant to swallow any roughage, as if instinctively aware that passing it will be painful. As a milk-dependent infant, this wasn’t a major concern but as Raha matures and her body requires more leaves, branches, twigs, and bark for sustenance, it becomes a greater issue. Despite this, we are tentatively hopeful about Raha’s progress. She recovered from the prolapse more quickly than we could have hoped and was soon up to excursions into the forest. Much to our delight, she even started nibbling on greens. The path forward is challenging but we are doing everything we can to support her. Raha’s case is complex and unprecedented but, if there is one thing we have learned over the years, it is that animals continually surprise us. The highlight of December was the commencement of Mukutan, Choka, and Loldaiga’s graduation training. As the biggest boys at the Nursery, they are outgrowing the Nursery phase and are ready to begin their reintegration journeys. Training begins by feeding the orphans their milk bottles in the translocation truck that will eventually bring them to Tsavo. As usual, the first few days of training were tricky but, by the week’s end, all three boys were old hands. In fact, Mukutan became so comfortable with the truck — or, more accurately, the tasty milk and sugar cane he knew waited within — that he took to nipping back for extra helpings in between training sessions! In the new year, they will graduate to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit in Tsavo East.
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Rewilding is a journey, and it doesn’t always unfold in a straight line.
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v o i r e i nt e g r at i o n u n i t 28 stockade-dependent orphaned elephants 82 ex-orphans living wild 2 wild ‘grandbabies’ born to Voi ex-orphans in 2024 Just a few days into the new year, the ex-orphans returned after a brief hiatus. Led by matriarchs Edie, Mweya, and Kenia, Panda, Naipoki, Kihari, Ndoria, Arruba, Araba, Mudanda, Suswa, Mwitu (Mweya’s wild-born baby), Eden, Eco, and Enzo (Edie’s wild-born babies) arrived at dawn, accompanied by a wild bull. Once the dependent orphans were let out of their stockades, more than 45 elephants mingled at the trough and on the terraces. Laikipia visited the stockades in mid-January after an uncharacteristically long absence. (Uncharacteristically long for him: While most bulls tend to visit infrequently, Laikipia is a familiar face around Voi.) The 25-year-old bull strode up the path and joined his human-orphan family at the feeding area. Graduations are always auspicious events. On 21st February, Rokka and Manda made the journey from Kaluku to Voi, where they will continue their rewilding journey. When the translocation truck arrived, Mbegu, Tamiyoi, Sagala, Tagwa, Godoma, Pika Pika and Lemeki were ready and waiting to welcome the newcomers. Manda and Rokka walked out of their compartments and were immediately enveloped in a chorus of rumbles and trunk hugs. When new members join the herd, there is always an adjustment period. Some of the Voi Kids — most notably, Busara — were a bit cool towards Rokka and Manda, worrying that they might steal attention away from them. Funnily enough, Manda was also feeling covetous. He had never been possessive of Rokka at Kaluku, but suddenly he tried to prevent her from getting close to any other elephants. The older females patiently gave the newbies space, understanding that Rokka was ready to embrace their affection but that Manda was not. The turning point came about a week after Manda and Rokka’s graduation. As the herd fanned out around Msinga Hill, Manda, Lasayen, and Rokka spent a happy morning together. The Keepers were thrilled to see Manda so relaxed — he even draped his trunk over Lasayen at one point. Later, friendly Ashanti ambled over and greeted Manda with a trunk touch. Manda welcomed the new friend and from that day forward, embraced the rest of the Voi herd.
Unusually generous March rains transformed Voi into an emerald paradise. The orphans enjoyed an endless buffet of blossoming acacia trees, grewia shrubs, and ipomea flowers. On several occasions, they even opted to skip the mud bath so that they might have more time to feast on the tasty vegetation, knowing that such bountiful feasts are not always a given. Pika Pika is always the first in and the last out of the mud bath. Sometimes, she even pushes her friends out of the water, so she can have the pool all to herself. Now, our water baby has a new partner. Plucky Itinyi also loves swimming more than your average elephant — and it seems like he has been taking notes from Pika Pika! One afternoon, he climbed atop Kenderi in the water, much to his friend’s annoyance. This achieved Itinyi’s goal of chasing Kenderi out of the pool, so he had more space for wallowing. In April, we bore witness to a romance between Laikipia and Sagala. We knew something was afoot when Sagala flirtatiously sidled against the ex-orphan, touching him with her trunk in a gesture of courtship. Several days of courtship followed, until the pair mated on 19th April. Sagala even remained in the bush with Laikipia overnight, rather than return to the stockades. If all goes well, a baby will be born from this union in two years’ time. On 24th April, Rorogoi returned after a five-month absence. The ex-orphan sauntered up to the Voi stockades, looking content and healthy. She was in the company of many old friends, including Naipoki, Panda, Kihari, Suswa, and Mudanda. Mbegu and Rorogoi stood with their heads together and trunks entwined, catching up after several months’ separation. Out in the bush, Ndotto followed Rorogoi like a shadow for the whole morning.
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Unusally generous March rains transformed Voi into an emerald paradise.
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Everyone loves Mbegu — and with good reason. She is an excellent matriarch. We were reminded of this one May day, when Ndotto (who does not like mud bathing) was dawdling on the way to the mud bath. Mbegu took charge of the situation, marching him all the way down the hill and to the water hole. Like a wild elephant matriarch, she always makes sure that no one is left behind, whether large or small, and that every member of the herd is safe. On 25th June, we were treated to a visit from our old friend, Nguvu. One might say that Nguvu is the original Voi Kid. He was rescued from a drying water hole in 2016. Because he was older and rescued nearby, we brought him directly to our Voi Reintegration Unit. Nguvu soon returned to the wild, but he continues to visit us periodically. This time, it had been ten months since his last visit. He was in the company of his wild family — who very well may be his natal family, given he was rescued from the area — and looked to be in excellent condition. Notably, no ex-orphans visited us in July or August. When the grasslands dry up, they go wandering far afield, usually towards Mageno Ranch or Sagala Hills, where there is still green vegetation to be found. As the year progressed, little Lemeki blossomed into an excellent nanny. She adopted stout Losoito and fusses over her all day. Her heart also belongs to Thamana, her original ‘little brother’ from their shared Kaluku days. One day, we observed Losoito resting her forelegs on the trough while drinking with Lemeki. When Thamana walked up to join them, Lemeki carefully stood between her old friend and her new one, just in case Thamana felt jealous. Thamana still gets plenty of attention, as he remains Emoli’s favourite sparring partner.
drought, under very desperate circumstances. Now two years on, it is remarkable to see how each one is thriving. The Voi Kids are a feisty bunch, known for their strong personalities and playful spirits. Kilulu, Epiya, Hildana, Kenderi, and Itinyi are particularly mischievous. Ashanti is gentle but fiery when challenged, while Baraka and Busara are the spoiled babies under Mbegu’s protection. It is nice to see how everyone has found their place amongst the herd. On 16th October, we woke up to find Mudanda waiting outside the stockades with a newborn baby next to her. She had given birth just up the path and was waiting to introduce us to her little girl, who we named Miale. Her entourage of nannies, particularly Panda and Naipoki, were very protective of the baby. Just ten days after Miale’s birth, we welcomed another blessing: As we prepared milk and lucerne in the early morning, Mweya’s ex-orphan herd waited quietly outside. Pushing a wheelbarrow towards the elephants, a Keeper noticed a tiny baby in their midst. Mweya had given birth in the night and had arrived especially early to show us her beautiful baby girl. We named her Mwangaza. We often remark that our big nannies — Mbegu, Godoma, Tagwa, and Tamiyoi — have the patience of saints. But even saints have their limits! One afternoon in November, Tamiyoi and Emoli found an enticing gully that was the perfect size for a double dust bath. The two friends lay down inside it, side by side, and enjoyed a moment of peace. It wasn’t long before chunky Kilulu arrived. With no space left, he sat on top of Tamiyoi, resting his large bottom and all his weight on her. Poor Tamiyoi realised her relaxation had come to an end. She pushed him off, struggled to her feet, and angrily stomped away.
Rewilding is a journey, and it doesn’t always unfold in a straight line. After a brief foray in the wild, Rorogoi has reconsidered and decided she isn’t quite ready to leave our care — and that is okay! She spent the whole month of August at Voi, even sleeping inside the stockades, at her request. We are happy that she has returned home and feel confident that she will rejoin the wild when she is ready.
6th December was a very sad day. In the early morning, we were greeted by Mweya’s ex-orphan herd waiting outside the stockades. We immediately realized that Mudanda’s baby, Miale, was missing — and that the ex-orphans were likely there to report the loss. They spent only a few minutes in front of the stockades before heading back into the wilderness.
Our Voi Kids — Akina, Ashanti, Baraka, Busara, Dabida, Epiya, Hildana, Itinyi, Juni, Kenderi, Kilulu, Losoito, Seri, and Ushindi — are growing in size, strength, and confidence. These orphans were rescued in the 2022
Several Keepers followed the ex-orphans in a vehicle, staying with them for hours in the hope that they might lead us to little Miale. Despite an extensive search, she was nowhere to be found. We had to accept that
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Mudanda had lost her happy, healthy baby. Poor Mudanda didn’t seem outwardly upset — as wild animals accustomed to loss, elephants are good at ‘turning the page’ and focusing on the present — but we mourned the passing of her precious little girl. The next day, Mweya and Mudanda’s ex-orphan herd arrived at dawn. Although Miale was still missing, Mweya’s baby, Mwangaza, was present and healthy. She was sandwiched between Mweya and Mudanda, both of whom stood so close that we could hardly see the baby. They were clearly taking no chances. In the beginning of December, big bulls Ndotto, Murit, and Lasayen decided to join the ex-orphans, further experimenting with their wild lives. But as we are constantly reminded, reintegration is a gradual journey — not a direct path. After nearly two weeks living wild, Ndotto decided he was ready for a break. He remained with the herd as they wandered back home in the evening and spent the night in the stockades. 2024 ended with indecision. After breakfast, current and former orphans headed out to browse in two groups on Msinga Hill. Ndotto and Ngilai kept moving back and forth from one group to the other, unsure whether to stay with the ex-orphans or the dependent herd. When our elephants climbed to the top of the hill, Ndotto stayed back with Mweya’s herd. Later in the day, however, he returned to the stockades and to best friend Ngilai. We wonder if 2025 will be the year that Ndotto finally decides to go wild!
Laikipia visited the stockades in mid-Jamuary after an uncharacteristically long absence.
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For many years, Ithumba was home to our largest orphan herd. However, with so many older orphans relcaiming their place in the wild, the herd is now smaller, numbering just 15
i th u m b a r e i nt e g r at i o n u n i t 15 stockade-dependent orphaned elephants 109 ex-orphans living wild 7 wild ‘grandbabies’ born to Ithumba ex-orphans in 2024 Last year saw many dependent orphans transition to wild-living elephants. Neshashi and Sana Sana are thriving in their new life, but they sometimes get nostalgic. In early January, they attempted to join the dependent herd’s 6 AM milk feed, lining up alongside Roho, Larro, and Naboishu in the hope of receiving a bottle. The Keepers had to remind them that wild elephants do not get bottles — and that the girls had picked their camp! A few days later, little Sagateisa pulled a disappearing act. We found her with Kinna’s herd, dutifully taking care of Olare’s baby, Ola. We tried our best to direct Sagateisa back to the dependent herd, but she staunchly refused. In the end, we decided to leave her with Kinna’s herd, happy in the knowledge that she has a family and a strong purpose in looking after Ola. On 12th February, an extraordinary treatment unfolded at the Ithumba stockades. It started the night prior, when Barsilinga appeared at the stockades after more than a month away. The Keepers quickly realised he bore a small wound on his shoulder, likely from an arrow or a spear. It was too late to conduct a veterinary treatment, but everything was organised for the following morning. At first light, Barsilinga again appeared at the stockades in the company of ex-orphans Malima, Jotto, Musiara, Dololo, Wiva, Mulika, Nusu, Nasalot, Noah, Ndiwa, and Mkuu. The Aerial Unit and SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit were mobilised to the scene. As it turned out, the injury was the result of a spear. The wound was very deep, but fortunately it did not compromise the joint or bone. After thoroughly cleaning out the injury and administering antibiotics, Barsilinga was up and on his way. He continued to visit in the following days and weeks, allowing us to monitor his recovery. Kithaka and Enkikwe have formed their own boy band. Both have identical problems with their right hind leg — Kithaka’s injuries sustained from some misadventure, Enkikwe’s from a lion attack. They were always in each other’s company in March, often accompanied by Vuria. On 18th March, a friendly elephant was reported loitering near Kanziku Gate in Tsavo East National Park. The Keepers went to investigate — and came face
to face with Ngasha! He disappeared right after being translocated from Umani to Ithumba in August and has been absent for the past seven months. It turns out that he was just busy enjoying and exploring his new home. The following day, we returned to Kanziku Gate to see if Ngasha was still around. On the way there, a majestic elephant emerged from the bush and approached the vehicle — Ngasha again! The Keepers treated him to a bale of lucerne, which he happily tucked into. After a brief meeting, Ngasha continued on his way, heading in the direction of Ithumba Hill. We hope to see him again soon but either way, we know that he is well and in the area. The end of March — Easter Sunday — ended on a wonderful note. Early in the morning, Galana brought her newborn baby ‘home’ for an introduction. She was joined by Gawa, her first-born daughter, along with Makireti, Naserian, Njema, Wendi, Wema, Wimbi, and Siku. After a brief stopover at the stockade, Galana and her team headed east towards Kalovoto. Gala, as we named her daughter, looked very healthy and energetic. Galana was the first ex-orphan to have a baby in 2024, but we knew that she certainly wouldn’t be the last. Indeed, the highlight of April was undoubtedly the arrival of Loijuk’s new baby. We feel so honoured that our ex-orphans choose to introduce us to their wildborn offspring — and it is a privilege we never take for granted. The happy arrival unfolded on11th April. In the browsing fields, the orphans were briefly joined by Loijuk; her firstborn, Lili; nannies Siangiki, Mundusi, Kama, Makena, Karisa, and Sita — and a brand-new baby. This is Loijuk’s second daughter. We named her Lisha.
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Suguroi could easily be awarded a gold medal in an Olympics sprinting competition. She is always challenging the other orphans to races and fitness challenges, and with her light and powerful build, she usually emerges the winner. One day, it was amusing to watch Suguroi race Bondeni to the mud bath — she overtook him as if he was stationary! Truth be told, Bondeni is quick-witted but slow about everything else. His friends are well aware of this and take advantage when they can. (The exception being his ‘big sisters,’ Kindani and Kinyei, who would never dream of doing such a thing to their precious boy.) During an afternoon milk feed, there was drama when Roho forced his way over to Bondeni. He knows that his friend is a slow drinker and thought he could steal his milk. Fortunately, the Keepers saw right through his plan and thwarted his efforts. On 19th May, our Ithumba herd welcomed two new graduates: our Kaluku gentlemen, Mayan and Vaarti. The boys were offloaded and given bottles of milk, which they drank quickly before going to meet their new herd. Mayan and Vaarti had a successful first day in Ithumba, soaking everything in and going to their Kaluku Keepers whenever they needed reassurance. Back at the stockade, they joined their new roommate Esoit, who is always kind and welcoming. Elephants must send out a signal when newcomers arrive; it cannot be a coincidence that a bevy of ex-orphans always show up immediately following a graduation, as if on cue! Sure enough, first thing the following morning, Wendi, Wiva, Wema, Wimbi, Naserian, Njema, Lualeni, Lulu, Lexi, Galana, Gawa, Gala, Sunyei, Siku, Saba, Sana Sana, Naboishu, Malima, Ndiwa, Wanjala, and Enkikwe reported to the stockades. Only Wendi was unfriendly, pushing Vaarti when he extended his trunk to say hello. Fortunately, Wendi was in the minority. Later in the day, a group of ex-orphans was relaxing beneath an acacia tree. Much to our surprise, Mayan confidently walked over to greet them. Maramoja escorted him from group to group, while Malima generously allowed him to clamber atop her. Meanwhile, Vaarti had a brief meeting with Mukkoka before moving on to meet baby Tembo and Oltaiyoni. On 23rd June, Chemi Chemi appeared with a spear wound on his left hip. He remained with the dependent herd for the rest of the morning, as if aware that help was on its way. The SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit was
flown to the scene, and Dr Limo quickly got to work. Chemi Chemi was darted and treated while the orphans and ex-orphans watched on. Concerned but calm, the elephants seemed to understand that we were helping their friend. Fortunately, the treatment was a success, and Chemi Chemi recovered quickly. By the time July rolled around, the dry season was starting to bite. Predictably, we welcomed lots of exorphan visitors — including Kilaguni, who was last seen in October 2023. At the end of the month, 132 wild elephants and ex-orphans visited the stockades to drink water. It was quite a sight to behold and a reminder that Ithumba is such an important water source for the elephants of northern Tsavo. In July, we had a wonderful reunion with Kitiak, one of the ‘Ithumba Six’ who disappeared shortly after graduating from the Nursery last December. Despite extensive searches on the ground and in the air, Kitiak, Ahmed, Tingai, Taabu, Elerai, and Rafiki remained elusive. While we were anxious for their return, we remained optimistic, given the favourable conditions and the likelihood that wild elephants had taken them under their wing. We felt sure this wasn’t the end of our story with them. On the evening of 1st July, a new chapter in their story unfolded. Angela Sheldrick and her family were enjoying a picnic on the Athi River when a young elephant strolled down the opposite embankment. He noticed their presence but remained calm and self-assured— clear signs of an ex-orphan. Given his young age, he could only be one of the missing six. Angela took photos and sent them to Peter and Julius, Keepers who had helped raise Kitiak, Ahmed, Tingai, Taabu, Elerai, and Rafiki at the Nursery. Their response was immediate and emphatic: “That’s Kitiak! See the angle of his tusks and the scar on his left haunch?” Kitiak had always had unusually large tusks for his age, pointing out at distinctive angles. When he was rescued in November 2022, he had multiple arrow wounds. They healed, but one notable scar on his left side remained. Kitiak enjoyed a long, leisurely drink before rejoining his adopted family — a wild female and her baby. He was a picture of health and happiness and, based on his condition, we feel certain that the remaining five are in equally good care. With favourable conditions, herds can afford to embrace youngsters who are no longer milkdependent into the fold.
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While the Ithumba Six were eager to expedite their rewilding journey, Kuishi is taking a markedly different pace. She graduated to Ithumba in 2019, alongside Mapia and Malima. Her friends are now living wild, but she remains part of the dependent herd. She is very attached to little Esoit, and now that Mayan and Vaarti have joined her little adopted family, she is busier than ever. Kuishi will hear the call of the wild eventually, but we are happy to have her with us for as long as she chooses. On the evening of 24th September, Chaimu remained close to the stockades, even after all the other ex-orphans had departed. The Keepers soon realised that she was in labour. As a first-time mum, perhaps she felt comforted by being in the presence of the people who raised her. An hour and a half later, Chaimu gave birth to a healthy little boy, who we named Chapa. Just three days later, after the afternoon mud bath, we were treated to an unexpected surprise — Sidai strolled by with a days-old baby at her side. This is her third calf but, unlike other Ithumba ex-orphans, she does not return home immediately after giving birth to introduce her newborns. Independent and private as ever, she kept her distance. We named her latest addition, another boy, Sid. October ended with another wonderful addition to our extended elephant family: On 27th October, Mulika surprised everyone when she showed up with a newborn baby in tow. In her typical laid-back fashion, there was little fanfare — even Mulika’s daughter, son, and granddaughter were not present. It was as if she just wanted to quietly debut her baby to the Keepers, before returning to her family in the wilderness. We named him Moe. This was a special moment for Head Keeper Benjamin and the other Keepers who have been at Ithumba since the very beginning. Alongside Yatta, Kinna, and Nasalot, Mulika was one of Ithumba’s founding females when we established the new unit in 2004. Over the past 20 years,
she has become a matriarch and a mother of three. She is also a grandmother — her eldest, Mwende, had her first baby last October. It is wonderful to see how far Ithumba has come in the past 20 years, giving birth to generations of elephants. It wasn’t long before another founding female introduced us to her new baby. On the morning of 6th December, Kinna appeared from the eastern side with her daughters and several ex-orphans in tow. But the highlight of the group was a tiny new baby — Kinna’s third daughter, whom we named Kito. The celebrations continued on 15th December with yet another new arrival. Early that morning, a group of ex-orphans gathered at the stockades, but the biggest surprise was the tiny elephant by Lenana’s side. It had been nearly two months since her last visit but, like Kinna, she had clearly come home to share the joy of her new addition. We named her baby Laki, which is a lucky name for a son in Swahili. However, for all its happy moments, December was also tinged with sadness. After more than a month away, new mother Chaimu returned — but to our dismay, she was without her infant son, Chapa. We will never know what happened to him, but we can only hope he was taken in by other elephants. Chaimu did not seem distressed or dispirited; she had clearly come to terms with her loss. We are heartbroken that Chapa is no longer with her, but nature can be unrelenting, and many elephant mothers must endure such losses. For many years, Ithumba was home to our largest orphan herd. However, with so many older orphans reclaiming their place in the wild — a wonderful success for the unit — the herd is now smaller, numbering just 15. Lodo, Vaarti, Mayan, Suguroi, Esoit, Olorien, Kinyei, Kindani, Bondeni, Naleku, Roho, Larro, Mukkoka, Kuishi, and Sattao form a tight-knit group, behaving like siblings. In the year ahead, we know that some among them will also choose to join their wild brethren.
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2024 marked Umani’s tenth anniversary. This unit is
special because it cares for orphans with disabilities. Now, most of the original herd is living semi-wild, although they still regularly visit their Keepers.
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umani spr ings r eintegr ation unit 8 stockade-dependent orphaned elephants 10 semi-independent / ex-orphans living wild 2 wild ‘grandbabies’ born to Umani ex-orphans in 2024 The new year began with a big night for Enkesha. For several days, a wild elephant herd with many babies courted Enkesha intensely, trying to entice her to join them. Much to our surprise, Enkesha accepted their invitation and — despite the Keepers’ many attempts to call her back — disappeared into the forest with her new friends. The following morning, the Keepers and rangers patrolled the forest, hoping to find Enkesha. All of a sudden, they heard an elephant yelling. Suspecting it was Enkesha trying to find her way back, they followed the noise. Sure enough, a stout elephant came charging out of the trees — it was Enkesha! She was joyfully received by all the girls, who acted as if she had been away for many weeks, instead of one single night. As she gets older, Murera has become a bit more highmaintenance. She is particularly grumpy when eating her morning pellets and doesn’t allow anyone in her vicinity. One February morning, she chased off Mwashoti, Amali, Enkesha, and Kiasa, keeping the eating area exclusively to herself. It was amusing to see how quickly Murera regretted her actions. Seeing all the orphans, including her daughter, hanging out together just a short distance away — never mind that they were hiding from her wrath — she strode over to join them. As she approached, most of the dependent orphans fled, thinking she was still in a grump. Sonje coaxed everyone into forgiving and forgetting, but Amali wasn’t feeling quite so understanding. Amali has a special bond with Murera and clearly didn’t appreciate the harsh treatment. We believe that Amali is a Lima Lima-in-the-making. She has become a very strong defender of her Keepers. Four buffaloes were a mainstay at the mud bath in February and every day, Amali did her very best to drive them away from her human family. She often had the support of Kiombo, Kapei, and even little Mwana in these missions. Many bulls change after going wild, but Alamaya and Mwashoti remain humble and friendly boys. Mwashoti is a daily visitor, while Alamaya comes and goes at less regular intervals. During one visit, the Keepers were
rubbing Alamaya’s belly and ears, letting him know that he had been very missed. Jasiri became jealous and beelined over, wanting a similar reception. 12th March was a very big day for our Umani family: It was Mwana’s first birthday! It is hard to believe that our ‘Princess of Umani’ has been with us for an entire year. She is growing into a remarkable young elephant — big and advanced for her age, and adored by all. We are also incredibly proud of Murera, who has proven to be a nurturing, protective, and very adept mother. Later in the month, the Keepers were thrilled to see their old wild friend, Osama, who was Sonje’s first boyfriend. He had been away for a very long spell but, on this special morning, Sonje escorted him to the stockades. We wonder if Osama was surprised to find that Sonje was already pregnant with another bull’s baby. When he realised that much had changed in his absence, he made a hasty exit and headed for the Chyulu Hills. At the Nursery, Kiasa was a notorious milk fiend. While she has matured significantly since moving to Umani, she occasionally gets up to her old tricks. One afternoon in April, she brazenly snatched a second bottle and drank it in one go. To add insult to injury, she stole from Murera’s share, knowing that the matriarch moves slowly and arrives last. It all happened so quickly that the Keepers only realised Kiasa’s deception when they saw her running away with an extra bottle clasped in her trunk. Young Kapei, once the over-coddled ‘Prince of Umani,’ is learning how to stand on his own four feet. He has been spending more and more time with Maktao and Kapei, which is good for him. Kiombo and Maktao often place him in the middle of their pushing games, inviting him to observe their tactics without involving him in their roughhousing. In time, Kapei will be big and strong enough to join as a competitor.
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24th June marked Umani’s tenth anniversary. This unit is special because it cares for orphans with disabilities. Now, most of the original herd is living semi-wild, although they still visit their Keepers. This anniversary also marked a significant milestone for Murera and Sonje, the female founders of Umani Springs. Murera has given Umani its first baby, Mwana, and Sonje, Lima Lima, and Zongoloni are soon to follow in her footsteps into motherhood. Ziwa has been fully adopted by a wild family, but he remains closely connected to his human-orphan family. Sometimes, this causes jealousy among his new herd. One morning, while his wild family relaxed on the dust piles, Ziwa was visiting with us. However, they soon became jealous when they saw how comfortable he was with the Keepers and orphans. The matriarch started rumbling and trumpeting, signaling to Ziwa that it was time to return to his new family. July was a special month for our junior boys, Maktao and Kiombo. The pair decided to start exploring their independence, beginning with the occasional night away from the stockades. They always report back first thing in the morning, clearly missing their milk. One day, after receiving his breakfast bottle, Kiombo lingered with his mouth open, as if expecting to get the dinner bottle he had missed the night before. The Keepers gently explained that he and Maktao had missed their opportunity for last night’s dinner and guided him into the forest. Long the wallflower of the Umani herd, Quanza is emerging as an excellent leader. Although she no longer sleeps in the stockades, she takes responsibility for leading the orphans home in the evening. She arranges the babies in a straight line, with Mwana in the middle and Murera at the rear. With the help of Kiasa and Amali, she leads the herd back to the stockades. Quanza always does a skilful job of dodging any wild elephants they might encounter along the way. Princess Mwana loves her biological mother, Murera, but she is still very connected to her Keepers. She remembers how they bottle-fed her when her mother was unsure how to care for her in the early days. One August morning, the little elephant came tumbling out of her bedroom, full of joy. A Keeper was walking in front of her, unaware that Mwana was behind him. Suddenly, she playfully charged and blew her little trumpet close to his legs. The surprised Keeper gave a huge start, much to Mwana’s delight — mission accomplished!
Elephant society revolves around respect, as a small incident in October reminded us. Lima Lima was enjoying a session at the orphans’ favoured scratching post when Murera strode over. Without hesitation, Lima Lima sacrificed her spot, knowing that the matriarch commands respect. As Murera scratched at a leisurely pace, Mwashoti and others gathered around. They too wanted a turn, but they knew better than to rush Murera. Other elephants would not have been afforded the same courtesy. 14th October marked Amali’s second rescueversary. It has been incredible to witness her transformation over the past two years. The withdrawn calf we rescued in 2022 has blossomed into a confident, competent little leader. She used to shy away from the Keepers, but now she is completely comfortable around them. She has developed a funny habit of approaching them with her mouth wide open, asking for their fingers to suckle, much like a baby with a pacifier. December was a month that will shine in Umani’s history — for we welcomed not one, but two new grandbabies into our extended elephant family! On the morning of 3rd December, Lima Lima arrived looking very tired, which is not her usual nature. She moved very slowly, flanked by Quanza and Sonje, and then lay down and rubbed her belly on an anthill. The Keepers suspected that Lima Lima was starting to go into labour. Keeper Evans even leaned his head on her belly, jokingly asking when the baby’s big debut would happen. They didn’t have to wait long. The following morning, Quanza rushed up to the staff quarters in a very uncharacteristic state, trumpeting and charging around. Head Keeper Philip was informed of her unusual state and drove over to investigate. He was intercepted by Quanza, who directed him to a small group of elephants standing beneath a tree: Lima Lima and Sonje, flanking a tiny baby boy. News of Lima Lima’s baby spread quickly. Keepers and orphans alike raced through the forest to meet their new family member, who we named Lenny. Only Mwana was dismayed by this turn of events. She saw Lenny as a personal affront, dethroning her from the coveted position of herd baby. As the day progressed, Mwana became increasingly impolite, even aiming some surly back-kicks in Lenny’s direction. Eventually, Murera escorted her daughter back to the stockades so she could sulk in private.
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Fortunately, Mwana’s sullen mood only lasted a few days. We believe the turning point was a ‘meeting’ chaired by Murera and Sonje, in which the big girls explained to Mwana that every Umani elephant must welcome and respect new baby additions, just as they had done with Mwana. It was agreed that the family was growing, and they all needed to live together peacefully. From this day forward, Mwana transformed into a model big (but still very little!) sister.
And then, on Christmas Day, we received yet another gift. Early that morning, the nightclubbers slowly approached the stockades, hiding something exciting. We quickly realised it was Sonje, introducing us to her brand-new baby girl. Discovering the news, the orphans started trumpeting and even urinating everywhere in excitement, all manners forgotten. The Keepers were overjoyed that Sonje had given them such a precious gift on Christmas Day — a day that now felt even more special.
Naturally, all the girls were clamouring for the opportunity to nanny Lenny, but it was Kiasa who emerged the victor. Up until Lenny’s birth, Kiasa was milk- and stockadedependent, returning home with the other orphans every evening. She knew that her fellow dependents, Enkesha and Amali, would also want to look after Lenny.
We named Sonje’s daughter Sulwe, which means ‘morning star’ in the Luo language. It felt most fitting, for we could not have imagined a better or brighter way to top our Christmas morning. The name has special significance for Umani’s Head Keeper, Philip, who is of the Luo tribe. He has been by Sonje’s side since her Nursery days. Now, with the other Umani Keepers, he gets to be the honorary grandfather to her daughter.
So, the clever girl devised a plan: Instead of fighting for nanny roles each morning, she stepped up her strategy and left the stockades, instead sleeping in the forest so she could spend every minute with the baby. Enkesha and Amali were forced to concede defeat and embrace being Lenny’s secondary nannies — a role they hold with distinction.
The year ended with us marvelling at how much our Umani family has grown. Ten years ago, the unit didn’t even exist. Today, it has three wild-born babies to its name, with more on the way. We are so proud of our Umani orphans and the special family we are fostering in the Kibwezi Forest.
We named Sonje’s daughter Sulwe, which means ‘morning star’ in the Luo language - 39 -
This past year with Korbessa has been a delight, although it has also been beset with its fair share of challenges.
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k aluku unit 4 milk-dependent orphaned elephants 1 orphaned giraffe 2 orphaned rhinos The new year began with four new molars for our little black rhino, Chamboi. While teething is a fraught time for infant orphaned elephants, rhinos don’t struggle in the same way. Armed with his growing set of teeth, Chamboi finally started to eat greens. With his newly-expanded diet, he has even more energy and has become very playful. Two Keepers named Fred work at Kaluku, and these men seem to be Chamboi’s favourite companions — but truth be told, he loves everyone. In fact, he is not too shy to wander into the staff canteen, much to the amusement of everyone having a meal! On 21st February 2024, Rokka and Manda graduated to our Voi Reintegration Unit, where they will continue their journey back to the wild. This move had been on our minds for some time. Rokka, long the sole female in our little Kaluku herd, had blossomed into an excellent mini matriarch. However, as she grew older, it became clear she was outgrowing Kaluku. She had started pacing in her nighttime stockade, despite several rooming rearrangements. Rokka has always been the nurturer, and we suspected it was time for a role reversal. At Voi, she would be under the guidance of older females in a larger environment. Manda, Kaluku’s resident ‘big boy’, also craved broader horizons. He had sprouted into the largest bull at the unit, despite being more than a year younger than Vaarti and Mayan. As Manda’s size increased, so did his ego. He was constantly pushing his weight around, much to the dismay of his peace-loving Kaluku counterparts. We knew Manda would benefit from bigger, older friends who would keep him stimulated — and keep his behaviour in check. Happily, the move went without a hitch. Mayan and Vaarti escorted the graduates down to the airstrip to see them off. After an uneventful journey across Tsavo, Manda and Rokka safely arrived in Voi. They are thriving in their new home and have settled in beautifully. There is usually a brief adjustment period that follows any graduation. In this case, however, it was barely a blip. Rokka and Manda were beloved by their herd-mates, but perhaps everyone recognised that they were ready to move on. The remaining Kaluku herd quickly adjusted to the new dynamics.
Sprite — an orphaned warthog we rescued and rewilded — gave birth to three babies late last year. While we had caught glimpses of them, the cautious mother kept them at a distance. In February, she finally felt ready for a proper introduction. Sprite trotted up to Kaluku with three mini Sprites in tow. She even felt comfortable bringing her piglets over to Peter, the Keeper who raised her. Sprite’s partner is a handsome wild boar who often frequents the orphaned elephants’ mud bath. In March, we rescued two ostrich chicks, who we named Bam and Boozle. They immediately took a shine to one specific animal: Chamboi! The pair followed the black rhino from sunup to sundown, forming a little troupe. They make quite the odd group, with the stout rhino paired with his leggy satellites. Keeper Joseph, who has a very strong bond with Toto, took some time off in March. Toto didn’t seem terribly affected by his absence; his social circle had expanded, and he now spent his days palling around with the other orphaned elephants. However, Toto was over the moon when Joseph returned, lavishing him with trunk hugs and sticking to him like glue. Joseph was equally happy to be reunited with his young charge. Mwinzi is the friendliest of all the Kaluku elephants. He loves to play with the Keepers and the big elephants, Mayan and Vaarti. However, we do think he gets jealous of his agemates. While he enjoys Natibu’s company, he is not as accommodating towards Toto and Korbessa. For a long time, Mwinzi held the coveted status of being the only baby in the Kaluku herd. It must be an adjustment for him to now share that attention with several peers. On 29th May, Mayan and Vaarti graduated to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit, where they will continue their journey back to the wild. Graduations are always poignant affairs, but especially in this case. Mayan and Vaarti are two hard-won success stories: Mayan was rescued from a septic tank in Manyani Prison in December 2018. He arrived in a skeletal state and, for three full months, hovered between life and death. Day
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Mr. Bean dominates the Kaluku establishment
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and night, he was sustained through a constant rotation of drips until he miraculously turned a corner. Vaarti, improbably enough, came from Ithumba. After his mother died, he was delivered into our care by a wild elephant in September 2019. She must have found him alone and, knowing he needed help, escorted him to the Ithumba stockades. For him, the graduation to Ithumba marked a return home. Over the years, the boys have been a steady and positive presence in our Kaluku herd. They were reliable, affable, unflappable, and excellent influences on their younger counterparts. But every orphan deserves a return to their birthright — a truly wild life. It was time for Mayan and Vaarti to take the next step in their reintegration journeys. The move went very well, and the boys were embraced into their new home, as we knew they would be. Following the graduation, Natibu — who had a very special bond with Mayan — was particularly bewildered. But elephants are adept at turning the proverbial page and, within a few days, everyone was back to normal. Mwinzi immediately took on the role of herd senior. He is the eldest (though not by much — he is only two years old, after all) and, much like Mayan and Vaarti, is an unusually composed young bull. He was a fitting successor to fill our graduates’ shoes.
In August 2023, we were called to rescue an infant orphaned elephant who had fallen into a community well near Meru National Park. That evening, the tiny calf landed at our Kaluku Neonate Nursery — and so began Korbessa’s reign. The past year with Korbessa has been a delight, although it has also been beset with its fair share of challenges. Neonates are notoriously difficult to raise, especially those who come from fraught rescue circumstances. As a well victim, Korbessa was already on the back foot. (Prolonged time in water leaves calves susceptible to pneumonia and infection.) After suffering a dip in condition in July, Korbessa spent a brief spell at the smaller stable block down by Angela’s house, where she could enjoy a quieter atmosphere. Korbessa’s return to the ‘main side’ was so sweet to witness: Far from begrudging the return of Kaluku’s most spoiled princess, Toto, Mwinzi, and Natibu were overjoyed to have their little friend back. They clustered around her, smothering her in trunk hugs and refusing to let her leave their sight, even for a minute. Toto was especially delighted to have his ‘little sister,’ nighttime neighbour, and best friend back.
Toto also shares many of Mayan and Vaarti’s traits. He is remarkably patient, even when his friend Natibu is behaving rudely. Toto never gets involved in naughty behaviour; instead of reacting, he just walks away from the problem. He is very mature for his age.
In August, Chamboi started visiting the big mud bath. This was a special milestone for our chap — a sign that he is growing up and getting ready to take on new routines. Chamboi quickly adopted the mud bath into his repertoire. After his mid-afternoon milk bottle, he flops onto a pile of soft earth while his Keepers shovel goopy mud all over his little body. By the end, Chamboi looks more like a deep sea creature than a rhino.
Although he is growing up quickly, Toto still thinks he’s a lap elephant. If Joseph or the other Keepers are sitting on the ground, he trundles over and clumsily clambers atop them — no invitation needed! He is such a sweet, affectionate young bull.
Twiggy the giraffe has been in our care for three years now. We call her our security — with her height advantage and excellent senses, she is the first to alert the Keepers of any wild animals in the area. Be it lions, wild dogs, or any other wildlife, she lets us know.
By contrast, Natibu is a naughty little boy who loves to assert his dominance when the opportunity presents itself. He isn’t a bully, but he does like to show off how strong he is. Funnily enough, he is the only Kaluku bull without tusks. They are finally starting to peek through, but they are certainly taking their time.
Interestingly, Twiggy is most frightened of the smallest and most harmless creatures: Vervet monkeys, baboons, and even tiny antelope. If she comes across some dikdiks fighting in the bush, she bolts back to the stockades and lingers worriedly by the Keepers. We have to give her food to soothe her nerves!
We call Natibu our alarm clock: When the Keepers are mixing milk at night, he is up in a flash. He urges the Keepers to hurry up by rumbling, yelling, and pushing on his door. You would think it had been days — not mere hours — since his last meal.
October brought a little jumping bean into our world: During a routine foot patrol, our SWT/KWS Peregrine Anti-Poaching Team came across a tiny orphaned warthog. He was a few days old at most and appeared very lost and malnourished. The team scooped him up
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and brought him to our Kaluku Unit. We named the little warthog Mr Bean. Warthogs are delightfully particular creatures. Mr Bean shares a stable with several antelope friends, but he sleeps inside a little wooden box in the corner, which mimics a burrow. Come bedtime, Keeper Peter places a hot water bottle inside and Mr Bean trots into his cosy room, singing a chorus of satisfied grunts. In October, Mwinzi and Natibu graduated from their baby stables into open-air stockades. This is a significant transition for many elephants, but the boys didn’t miss a beat. They settled right into their ‘big boy’ bedrooms and seem to enjoy the extra space it affords. Twiggy, whose stockade is just across the way, is a calm but curious neighbour. Usually, Mwinzi and Natibu are too busy eating their branches to even notice her staring at them. Toto is an easygoing elephant, but one place where he stands firm is the mud bath — he hates it! Even on the hottest days, he will only submerge his body with the greatest reluctance. Usually, he remains resolutely on solid ground as his Keepers cover him with shovelfuls of wet earth. Toto gets the same protective benefits from the mud, without having to wallow. Unsurprisingly, Korbessa is the swimming star — we often remark that our ‘little frog’ is more amphibian than elephant. It bothers her no end that Toto does not like the water, and she devotes most of the mud bath to trying to coax him in. She performs increasingly intricate aquabatics in her friend’s direction, splashing every which way to showcase how much fun can be had, but Toto remains unmoved. Undeterred, Korbessa continues her daily campaign to convert Toto into a fellow frog. We often say that Twiggy is the Mother Goose figure of our Kaluku herd. She exudes kindness and calm, and all the other orphans pick up on that. We can usually find her surrounded by an assortment of animals, big and small. A special moment in November gave her nickname even deeper meaning. As the Keepers checked Twiggy’s stockade one evening, they were surprised to find that she had guests: a wild dik-dik and her brand-new baby. Seeking a safe place to give birth, the tiny antelope knew exactly where to go and took up residence in Twiggy’s room. The new mother sheltered her baby in Twiggy’s stockade for two days before bringing him out into the wider world. A newborn dik-dik is incredibly fragile — it only weighs about 1.5 pounds — and we marvel at how graciously Twiggy accommodated the baby’s presence. During their
stay, the mother often left her baby in the giraffe’s care as she ventured outside for food. We can’t imagine a better nursery for the little dik-dik. Chamboi was so tiny for about a year and then suddenly had an explosion of growth. In fact, in December, we realised that he will soon be too big for his stable. Moving him into a larger bedroom will be a huge upheaval, since rhinos are such creatures of habit. That will be a challenge to tackle in 2025. Chamboi isn’t the only orphan who experienced a growth spurt. By year-end, ostriches Bam and Boozle were unrecognisable from the tiny chicks we rescued just a few months prior. While they are now bigger than the stout rhino, Chamboi remains very fond of them. They still swoop around as only ostriches can, often tagging along at the tail end of a walk here and there. 2024 marked Apollo’s first full year in Rhino Base, his reintegration unit in Tsavo East. He is thriving — getting bigger, more independent, and calmer — and visibly enjoys his new home. He is also becoming more obstinate by the day. At night, Apollo only retreats to his stockade when he feels like it, sometimes remaining in his roaming grounds late into the evening. This freedom is encouraged, but it does require a ‘night guard’ of KWS rangers to keep tabs on him. Apollo shares his roaming grounds with a small herd of zebras who have taken up residence inside the fenced area. One of the females gave birth to a foal this year. Apollo took a keen interest in the tiny new addition and approached it curiously, but with great care. He can often be found calmly resting or feeding in the company of his striped friends. While Apollo is starting to look every inch a magnificent adult rhino, it will be a few years yet until he is fully grown. He spends his days mostly on his own schedule, while his Keepers provide guidance and company as needed. But every so often, we see glimmers of the tiny baby we rescued five years ago: When he wants something or is upset, Apollo still emits a high-pitched squeak, not unlike the noise tiny Chamboi makes. Apollo’s next steps are imminent, in which we will take him outside his roaming grounds and help him establish a proper territory. This process cannot be rushed and we will embark upon it when the time is right.
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2 0 2 4 e l e phant r e sc u e s Thanks to very favourable conditions in the field, we rescued an unusually low number of orphaned elephants this year. Still, even the best of times leaves orphans behind. Our orphan herd grew by two elephants in 2024, along with several smaller species. Sadly, as is the heartbreaking reality of our work, some rescues did not make it. This list only includes surviving additions.
ol omu n ya k Gender: Male Date rescued: 4th March 2024 Reason orphaned: Human-wildlife conflict Age at rescue: 12 months Rescue location: Maasai Mara, Olare Motorogi Conservancy In March 2024, an orphaned elephant calf was reported in the Maasai Mara. His mother was likely killed in humanwildlife conflict. He had spent several days — possibly even weeks — fending for himself. It is a miracle that the Mara’s famous lions didn’t get to him before help arrived. From the outset, Olomunyak was very affectionate and cooperative with his Keepers. Clearly, he was just grateful to find himself in safe hands. He instantly became a great favorite at the Nursery, thanks to his outgoing, cheerful personality. Olomunyak’s rescuers suggested his name, which means ‘the lucky one’ in the local Maa dialect. - 51 -
wa m ata Gender: Female Date rescued: 12th September 2024 Reason orphaned: Found alone Age at rescue: 12 months Rescue location: Tsavo East National Park Wamata’s life was saved by a routine aerial patrol. Our fixed-wing pilot was flying along the Tiva River when he spotted a little elephant near Wamata, in the northern sector of Tsavo East National Park. She was alone and visibly forlorn, partially shrouded in the riverine forest. After an aerial search revealed no elephants in the area, Wamata was rescued and brought to the Nairobi Nursery. Wamata is a quiet but friendly girl. She can usually be found wallowing in the mud, eating greens (which she prefers more than milk), or sandwiched between her older friends. She is named after the area where she was rescued, to forever connect her to her origins. - 53 -
2024 wild-bor n babies Wild-born babies are the greatest testament to the success of our Orphans’ Project. To date, we have met 71 calves born to orphaned females we rescued, raised, and rewilded. The actual number of ‘grandbabies’ is even higher, considering those we have not been introduced to and the calves sired by our male ex-orphans. In 2024 alone, we welcomed 11 new additions to our extended elephant family.
gala Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
20th March 2024 Female Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park Galana
Galana was rescued in 2004, when she was 16 months old. Tourists spotted her hiding in the bush, alone and in terrible condition. Despite being very weak, she had plenty of fight in her when she arrived at the Nursery. Over time, she evolved into a generous and nurturing female. Gala is her third calf, following Gawa (born 2016) and a premature calf born in 2021 who sadly didn’t survive. It is wonderful to see her with a healthy new baby.
l i sha Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
10th April 2024 Female Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park Loijuk
Loijuk was rescued in 2006, when she was five months old. Northern Kenya was in the grips of a terrible drought, and she was fortunate to be discovered by sympathetic Samburu tribesmen. Loijuk came to us with a terrible case of pneumonia, which nearly claimed her life. She was among the ex-orphans who delivered the infant orphan Toto to the Ithumba stockades in 2022. Lisha is Loijuk’s second daughter, following her firstborn, Lili (born 2014). - 55 -
chapa Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
24th September 2024 Male Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park Chaimu
Chaimu was rescued in 2009, when she was 11 months old. She had travelled more than 20 kilometres on her own, either searching for her family or hiding from whatever trauma had taken them from her. She arrived at the Nursery terribly suspicious and we worked hard to earn her trust. She has always been an excellent nanny and a very evenkeeled elephant. Chapa was Chaimu’s first baby. Very sadly, Chaimu lost Chapa under unknown circumstances
sid Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
26th September 2024 Male Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park Sidai
Sidai was rescued in 2006, when she was 19 months old. A victim of the drought, she came to us very traumatised — even our veteran Keepers struggled to coax her into accepting a milk bottle. She morphed into a gentle elephant and, while she resolutely marches to the beat of her own drum, she is very loving to the Keepers who raised her. Sid is Sidai’s third son, following Sita (born 2019) and Silas (2021).
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miale Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
16th October 2024 Female Voi, Tsavo East National Park Mudanda
Mudanda was rescued in 2013, when she was 13 months old. Our pilot spotted her during an aerial patrol, alone and very gaunt. She was likely a victim of ivory poaching, which was rife in Kenya at the time. Mudanda skipped the Nursery phase and grew up entirely at Voi. As a youngster, she was known for her mercurial temper but, in recent years, a more sensitive and nurturing side has emerged. Miale was Mudanda’s first baby. Very sadly, Mudanda lost Miale under unknown circumstances
m wan g a z a Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
26th October 2024 Female Voi, Tsavo East National Park Mweya
Mweya was rescued in 2001, when she was just one month old. She wandered into a small fishing village in Uganda, alone and seeking help. Even as a tiny orphan, Mweya was always a force of nature — in Swahili, we call her ‘kali’ — so it is no surprise that she morphed into a matriarch as an ex-orphan. Mwangaza is Mweya’s third calf, following Mwitu (born 2019) and Mojo (born 2022, but sadly passed away shortly thereafter). - 59 -
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moe Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
26th October 2024 Male Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park Mulika
Mulika was rescued in 2009, when she was nine months old. We cannot confirm how she lost her mother but given how troubled and untrusting of humans she initially was, we suspect poaching. Mulika went on to become one of the founding females who established our new Ithumba herd. Moe is Mulika’s third calf, following Mwende (born 2001) and Mkuu (2020). Mulika is also a grandmother; Mwende gave birth to her own baby in 2023.
laki Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
15th November 2024 Male Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park Lenana
Lenana was rescued in 2006, when she was 15 months old. Her mother had succumbed to illness, but she bravely remained by her side until the very end. Despite the profound loss she suffered, Lenana blossomed into a nurturing and compassionate elephant. She was an excellent ‘big sister’ to her fellow orphans, first at the Nursery and later at our Ithumba Reintegration Unit. Laki is Lenana’s second son, following Lapa (born 2020).
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l e nn y Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
4th December 2024 Male Umani Springs, Kibwezi Forest Lima Lima
Lima Lima was rescued in 2013, at 11 months old. A suspected orphan of poaching, she was something of a shrinking violet at the Nursery — but from the moment she arrived in Umani Springs, it became clear that she would be the glue holding the herd together. She is known for her quick wits, intelligence, and loyalty to her human-elephant family. Lenny is Lima Lima’s first baby.
kito Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
6th December 2024 Female Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park Kinna
Kinna was rescued in 1999, when she was just days old. She was discovered in a waterhole, where she had spent hours submerged as the glaring sun baked her little body. One ear became so burnt that the top edge crumbled off entirely. Like Mulika, Kinna is a founding female of Ithumba. She is a calm, competent leader. Kito is Kinna’s third daughter, following Kama (born 2017) and Kaia (2021). - 65 -
s u lw e Birthdate: Gender: Environs: Mother:
25th December 2024 Female Umani Springs, Kibwezi Forest Sonje
Sonje was rescued in 2012, when she was nine months old. A victim of poaching in the cruellest way, her right knee was completely fractured, likely the result of being shot or speared. While the wound healed, Sonje will always have limited mobility. With Murera, she established our Umani Springs Reintegration Unit in 2004, where she is now matriarch of the semi-independent orphans. Sulwe is Sonje’s first baby.
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We currently have four orphaned rhinos in our care,
each of whom serves as an important ambassador and, we hope, a future progenitor of their species. - 69 -
r h i n o u p d at e Black rhinos are a critically endangered species. Hunting and poaching caused a devastating 98 percent population decline between 1960 and 1995. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts across Africa, their numbers have doubled from a historic low of 2,500 and now exceed 6,000. As this fragile species comes back from the brink of extinction, every individual plays a crucial role in its resurgence.
maxwell Gender: Date rescued: Reason orphaned: Age at arrival: Rescue location: Current location: Current age:
Male 14th February 2007 Natural causes 12 months old Nairobi National Park Nairobi Nursery 18 years old
Due to his congenital blindness, Maxwell would not survive in the wild, but he enjoys a very happy life at our Nairobi Nursery. He makes full use of his network of stockades, easily navigating them without sight. While black rhinos have a reputation for being solitary creatures, Max is the exception to the rule — between his Keepers, orphaned elephants, and warthog friends, he has a constant stream of visitors calling on him.
ap o l l o Gender: Date rescued: Reason orphaned: Age at arrival: Rescue location: Current location: Current age:
Male 21st September 2019 Natural causes 6 months old Tsavo West IPZ Tsavo Rhino Base 6 years old
Last year, Apollo took the next step in his rewilding journey and graduated to Rhino Base in Tsavo East National Park. He was accompanied by two of his original Keepers, who have been a mainstay in his life since he was rescued. Apollo loves his new home and the newfound independence it affords. When he is ready, he will start establishing his own territory within the wider Tsavo ecosystem.
r aha Gender: Female Date rescued: 22nd September 2022 Reason orphaned: Unknown Age at arrival: 1 week old Rescue location: Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia Current location: Nairobi Nursery Current age: 2 years old
Raha was attacked by predators as an infant, resulting in a severely injured rectum. Painstaking veterinary intervention saved her life, though her case remains both challenging and unprecedented. After a year of progress, Raha suffered an unexpected prolapse of her rectum in November. While this was a serious setback, we are pleased with her recovery since then. We continue to take things day by day, working closely with our trusted veterinarians. - 71 -
cha m b o i Gender: Date rescued: Reason orphaned: Age at arrival: Rescue location: Current location: Current age:
Male 6th September 2023 Natural causes 0 weeks old Tsavo West IPZ Kaluku Neonate Unit 1 year old
This marked Chamboi’s first full year in our care. He was just days old, at most, when KWS rangers found him alone in Tsavo West National Park. As such, we are the only family he has ever truly known. Chamboi is extremely attached to his Keepers and has formed an eclectic group of friends with the other Kaluku orphans. The infant we rescued is starting to blossom into a miniature rhino before our very eyes.
Apollo has begun his rewilding journey in Tsavo East National Park
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2024 marks 21 years since our first Mobile
Veterinary Unit was established in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service.
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m o b i l e v e t e r i na r y u n i ts 6 Mobile Veterinary Units 1 Sky Vet Unit 17 major ecosystems covered across Kenya 2,108 animals in 497 cases attended in 2024 255 elephants attended in 2024 13,375 animals attended overall
This year was the program’s busiest year yet. An 88 percent increase in patients over the previous five-year average. This growing caseload is a reminder of both the threats wildlife face and the life-saving impact of expanding resources. Greater aerial capabilities and a larger field presence mean more injured animals are spotted and saved. Although this was a relatively forgiving year — generous rains contributed to a decline in cases related to drought, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict — there were still plenty of field emergencies. The success of the inaugural Tsavo Unit, launched in 2003, impelled us to expand the program across the country. Today, it is a cornerstone of our conservation work, with six permanent units and a rapid-response aerial team:
Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit
Mount Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit
Unit Leader: Dr Campaign Limo Established: 2003 Areas of Operation: Greater Tsavo Conservation Area, Chyulu Hills National Park, and Shimba Hills National Reserve
Unit Leader: Dr Jeremiah Poghon Established: 2017 Areas of Operation: Mount Kenya, the Aberdare Range, and Southern Laikipia
Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit
Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit Unit Leader: Dr Michael Njoroge Established: 2007 Areas of Operation: Masai Mara National Reserve, the adjacent Mara Triangle, neighbouring community areas, Ruma National Park, and Lake Victoria.
Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit Unit Leader: Dr Duncan Aminga Established: 2012 Areas of Operation: Meru National Park, Bisanadi National Reserve, Kora National Reserve, and surrounding wildlife dispersal areas, parks, and reserves
Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit Unit Leader: Dr Edward Kariuki Established: 2014 Areas of Operation: Amboseli National Park and the Southern Conservation Area, encompassing Kajiado, Namanga, Magadi, and Lake Natron; Southern Tsavo West, including Lake Jipe
Unit Leader: Dr Titus Kaitho Established: 2021 Areas of Operation: Lake Naivasha-ElementaitaNakuru region and Bogoria-Baringo region
Sky Vets Unit Leader: On-duty KWS veterinarian Established: 2013 Areas of Operation: The whole of Kenya, with a focus on emergencies in remote or inaccessible areas Our six SWT/KWS Mobile Veterinary Units support Kenya’s key ecosystems: Tsavo, the country’s largest wilderness and home to its biggest elephant population; the Mara, a plains-dominated landscape famous for the Great Migration; Meru, a sanctuary for Kenya’s white and black rhinos; Amboseli, a small but dynamic ecosystem celebrated for its tuskers; Mount Kenya, a rugged region dominated by the country’s highest peak; and the Rift Valley, a diverse habitat with an equally diverse array of birds and wildlife.
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Although they are anchored by these ecosystems, the Mobile Vet Units operate nationwide, also responding to cases in lesser-known — but no less critical — ranchlands and conservation areas. The Tsavo Unit reaches as far as the coast, while the Mara Unit may respond to cases as far as Lake Victoria, on the Ugandan border. The Meru, Mount Kenya, and Rift Valley Units cover Kenya’s vast north-central region, while Amboseli’s reach extends to Tanzania. Sky Vets, our rapid-response aerial unit, ensures no case goes unanswered. Every SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Unit is fully funded and equipped by Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Each team consists of a KWS field veterinarian, KWS capture rangers, and a SWT driver. We provide them with a customised Land Cruiser and a full suite of veterinary equipment. Operating from a central headquarters, teams respond to all manner of wildlife emergencies across their wider region. The success of our Veterinary Units is underpinned by a collaborative relationship with our other field conservation programs. Our Aerial Unit, in particular, has vastly increased the number of patients Mobile Vet Units are able to treat. In the course of their daily patrols, pilots often make the initial discovery of an ill or injured animal. They are trained to spot even the smallest abnormality — from unusual footprints indicating a snare victim to a tiny spot of pus that betrays an arrow wound. Given the time-sensitive nature of treatments and remote locations involved, aerial support is often required. In many instances, teams would struggle to
reach the patient or the veterinarian would not be able to anaesthetise them from the ground. With a helicopter, however, they are easily able to access and dart the patient, before shepherding them into an open area for treatment. Meanwhile, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams provide invaluable assistance on the ground. Their support spans every stage of treatment: Rangers are often the first to spot an ill or injured patient, then monitor the patient before and after, as well as providing hands-on assistance during the operation. In addition, we rely heavily on an informal surveillance network of KWS personnel, local communities, NGOs, lodge staff, guides, and tourists to report animals in need. We saw a marked dip in cases related to human-wildlife conflict compared to recent drought years. This reflects both favourable conditions in the field and the impact of proactive human-wildlife mitigation measures, including the erection of fence lines, aerial intervention, and where necessary, translocation operations. Worryingly, however, there was a stable number of poaching-related cases. Bushmeat poaching has ballooned from a subsistence-level practice to a commercial enterprise. Snares, which are the preferred weapon of bushmeat poachers, accounted for 52% of all poaching cases, followed by injuries inflicted by arrows (20.8%), spears (19%), and bullets (5.2%). While ivory and rhino horn poaching has declined in recent years, it remains a lurking and persistent threat, as evidenced by the number of elephants and rhinos treated for poachingrelated injuries.
Over the course of 2024, Mobile Vet Units attended to 2,108 animals. In addition to 255 elephants, teams also attended to 55 lions, 48 giraffes, 45 rhinos, 112 plains game, and a variety of other species. The caseload of Mobile Vet Units reflects pressures on the ecosystem. This year, poaching accounted for more than a third of all veterinary cases (173 cases, or 34.8% of total caseload), followed by natural causes (162 cases, or 32.5%) and human-wildlife conflict (59 cases, or 11.8%).
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The success of our Veterinary Units is underpinned by a
collaborative relationship with our other field conservation projects, particuarly our aerial unit.
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In Q1, Mobile Vet Units attended 117 cases, representing 752 animals. The most significant was a large-scale operation to advance black rhino conservation in the Mara. With SWT aerial support, the Mara Mobile Vet Unit notched the ears of 13 black rhinos and fitted many of their horns with radio transmitters, enabling field conservation personnel to better track and identify these highly vulnerable individuals.
As the dry season took hold, we saw an unprecedented rise in elephants becoming stuck in wells. Over the year, teams rescued 23 elephants from wells. These were complex, labour-intensive operations requiring significant resources. The lives saved ranged from fullgrown elephants to mothers and their calves. The details of one particularly challenging rescue are outlined in Notes From the Field at the end of this section.
A particularly heartwarming outcome saw a lost buffalo calf reunited with his mother. After a driver reported the calf, the Meru Vet Unit mobilised to the scene. While the week-old calf was given rehydration and guided to a shady area, the rest of the team set out to locate his herd. This was a challenging task, as Meru is home to a large buffalo population. After an extensive search, they identified a group where a female was showing signs of distress. The team transported the calf to the scene, where he successfully reunited with his mother, and the pair happily rejoined their herd.
In Q4, Mobile Vet Units attended 115 cases, involving 186 animals. As expected, the caseload declined with the arrival of the rains, which brought respite to both humans and wildlife. A highlight of the quarter was the Mount Kenya Vet Unit’s successful translocation of 53 elephants from Mwea National Reserve to Aberdare National Park. Mwea had exceeded its carrying capacity for elephants, and this move not only ensured its resident population had ample resources but also introduced more elephants to the Aberdares, which is a highly favourable environment.
In Q2, Mobile Vet Units attended 126 cases, involving 194 animals. This period also brought extraordinary rains to Kenya. The wild kingdom responds accordingly in times of bounty: Female elephants come into season and are highly receptive to breeding, leading to intense competition between bulls. As a result, teams responded to an unusually high number of fight-related elephant cases. There was also a memorable capture and aerial translocation of a crocodile who had been terrorising a local community.
While elephants made up the majority of cases in Q4 — and indeed, throughout 2024 — one notable treatment involved an unusual patient: a cheetah. These cats may be the world’s fastest land animal, but they cannot outrun human threats. Over the past century, their population has plummeted by 90 percent, leaving fewer than 10,000 individuals today.
May saw perhaps our most complex rescue operation to date: The rescue of a young adult elephant who had fallen to the bottom of a 45-foot-deep well. The full story is detailed in Notes From the Field at the end of this section. May also brought a challenging translocation operation for Sky Vets, in which a mother elephant and her two calves were moved from community land back into the safety of Tsavo East National Park. The family had been marooned for over a year, and this successful mission was both a win for their safety and a great relief to the local community. In Q3, Mobile Vet Units attended 135 cases, involving 972 animals. The large number of animals was largely due to a large-scale operation undertaken by the Mount Kenya Mobile Vet Unit to move 713 zebras and 38 elands off private farmland in order to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
Given the challenges they face, we do our part to help balance the scale. When Big Life reported an injured cheetah struggling to walk, we immediately flew the Amboseli Vet Unit to the scene. For a cheetah, survival hinges on the ability to run. He had sustained severe foot wounds in a territorial fight, but fortunately, treatment was straightforward. Soon after, he rejoined his two brothers, mobility restored. These highlighted cases offer just a glimpse into the 2,018 animals our SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Units attended over the course of 2024. As these operations demonstrate, the teams have an immeasurable impact: Not only do they directly save hundreds of wild lives each year, but they also safeguard the offspring who depend on them. Since the inception of our Mobile Vet programme, teams have attended to 13,375 animals, translating to thousands of wild lives saved and families kept together.
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N o te s f r o m t h e f i e l d: O U R M O S T C O M P L E X R E S C U E O P E R AT I O N Y E T
We were confronted by a disturbing sight: In the watery depths of a 45-foot well, an elephant was barely visible. He was fully submerged, forcing him to tread water and use his trunk as a periscope to breathe. He had been there for at least 12 hours — and time was running out. On 19th April 2024, we received a sobering report from Wildlife Works: A sub-adult elephant had fallen into a well on a community ranch south of Tsavo West National Park. It was already late in the day, but knowing that this was an urgent situation, we mobilised to the scene. We were joined by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit and KWS rangers. Upon arriving in Kuranze, it immediately became clear that the situation was much worse than we had imagined. The well was deep and steep — a perfect combination for a very complicated extraction. But most worrying was the water. The elephant (who, at about ten years old, was of a not-insignificant size) was completely underwater, with only the very topline of his body visible, moving back and forth as he methodically treaded water in the claustrophobic space. We can only imagine how frightened and exhausted he must have been. But the elephant had fought for himself this far. Now, it was our turn. We didn’t quite know how we would do it, but we knew we couldn’t give up on him. The decision was unanimous: No one would be leaving. While the SWT helicopter flew back to Kaluku to refuel and bring back more supplies in the morning, the rest of the team braced themselves for a long, sleepless night in the wilds of southern Kenya. Before we could even think of extracting the elephant, we had to first get the water levels down. He needed time to rest, or else he would drown. Even with water pumps, this would be an all-night affair. Illuminated by headlamps and a sliver of moonlight, we got to work. However, this proved to be a Sisyphean task. The well was beneath the water table, which meant that every inch of water removed promptly filled back up. We alerted headquarters and organised reinforcements to be brought in at first light. We are incredibly grateful to our hardware supplier in Voi, who opened at dawn so we
could get the equipment we needed. Now, we had three pumps working in tandem, whirring in a desperate race against time. At last, the water was brought down to a level where the elephant could comfortably stand. (All told, about 150,000 litres of water were extracted.) But that was only the first hurdle. Now, we were faced with the monumental task of lifting a big, heavy animal out of a 45-foot well. We hired a supersized crane for the job. But it was based in Mombasa — no small journey, especially for heavy machinery. It made the journey on the main roads on a low loader, then continued for several hours on the bush tracks. As it slowly trekked across Kenya’s greatest wilderness, we organised the rest of the operation. Anaesthetising an elephant in water is extremely risky. The moment the trunk becomes limp, there is the immediate risk of ingesting water into the lungs. Getting to them before that happens is a matter of life or death for the elephant — but it also presents no small risk for the rescue team, who must drop into a confined space with a very large, very wild creature. While KWS veterinarian Dr Limo lined up the dart, SWT pilot Roan Carr-Hartley and a KWS ranger slipped into harnesses and stood poised on the lip of the well. The moment the elephant was sedated, they descended into the well and secured straps around his body. The rest of the operation went like clockwork. The straps were hooked onto the crane which — ever so slowly — lifted the elephant to freedom. Once he was on solid ground, Dr Limo reversed the anaesthetic and administered medicine to ensure the elephant didn’t get pneumonia. Everyone waited with bated breath while he got to his feet. Remarkably, despite the incredible ordeal he had just survived, the elephant walked off into the bush, standing tall and strong. As one member of the operation recounted, ‘In the dead of night, we could hear the elephant churning his feet and breathing through his trunk. He was fighting so hard to live. We had to fight alongside him.’ What a privilege that we were able to do so.
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This was a complicated operation that look over 18 hours from
the time we arrived to the time the elephant walked free. It was a rescue that required significant resources.
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N o te s f r o m t h e f i e l d:
A B I G M I S S I O N TO R E S C U E A M OT H E R E L E P H A N T F RO M A W E L L
We received an urgent report from southern Kenya: Herders had discovered a large female elephant and her infant calf trapped inside a deep, water-filled well on Kuranze Ranch. This was going to be a difficult mission. Kuranze is far south, skirting along the Tanzania border. Extracting an adult elephant is always a tall order, but the presence of a young calf significantly complicated matters. We needed to get the timing just right, to ensure mum and baby were reunited on solid ground. A lot of moving pieces needed to fall into place. The SWT helicopter collected the SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit from Voi. Meanwhile, as luck would have it, a SWT grader was stationed about 30 kilometres away from Kuranze. While reinforcements flew down, it made the slow journey by road. By the time we arrived, the herders had extracted the calf. He promptly bolted, but they managed to catch up with him and tied him to a tree. This was quick thinking, ensuring he didn’t run off while his mother was trapped in the well’s depths. But there was still the very large — figuratively and literally — challenge of the fully grown elephant still inside. Dr Limo felt it would be too risky to anaesthetise the elephant in the water. Instead, we decided to use the grader to start backfilling the well. This would raise water levels, floating the elephant to a makeshift step from which she could clamber to safety. It was an all-hands operation: As the grader scooped
shovelfuls of earth into the hole, every person on site was throwing in stones and soil to create a step. Field operations are often like this: Hours of painstaking work, followed by a blink-and-you-miss-it finale. When the all-important step began to take shape, Dr Limo and Taru, our pilot, turned their attention to the baby. After untying him from the tree, they shepherded him back towards the well, so he would meet his mum when she emerged. All of a sudden, a vehicle rushed around the corner with an urgent message: The elephant had clambered to safety — and she was heading in the calf’s direction! Perhaps it was luck, perhaps she was hyper attuned to her offspring’s location, but either way, the mum made a beeline for her baby the moment she reached solid ground. This was hugely fortunate; if she had gone off in the other direction, we would have been faced with the formidable task of engineering a reunion. Taru immediately leapt in the helicopter and circled overhead, to be absolutely certain that mum and baby had linked up. He was greeted by a heartwarming scene below: The mum inspected her baby from trunk to tail, making sure he was okay. And then, even better, the rest of the herd circled in, enveloping the pair back into the fold.
It was a harrowing day, but it ended in the best possible outcome.
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This year marks the 25th anniversary of
SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams.
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ant i - p o ach i n g t e a m s 29 mobile Anti-Poaching Teams 1 Canine Unit 58,727 kilometres patrolled on foot in 2024 642 wildlife offenders arrested in 2024 14,326 snares confiscated in 2024
Over the past quarter of a century, our rangers have been defending the frontlines of conservation, tackling the greatest threats to wild lives, protecting habitats, and supporting all manner of field operations. We launched our anti-poaching operations in 1999, working in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service. What started as a single Tsavo-based team has evolved into an extensive presence with a footprint across Kenya’s key ecosystems. Today, we operate 29 Anti-Poaching Teams and a Canine Unit. These teams have an enormous impact: Over the past quarter century, they have logged more than 3.7 million kilometres on patrol — which means that on foot and by car, teams have collectively circumnavigated the globe more than 93 times. In 2024, we established one new team: Tsavo Mobile, which operates where needed most in Tsavo, providing coverage when other teams are off duty and in areas that would benefit from a bolstered ranger presence. The team was launched in May and has already made a demonstrated impact in the field. We are always seeking to expand protection of Kenya's vulnerable ecosystems. Last year, for instance, we expanded our anti-poaching presence to Arabuko Sokoke Forest and the Shimba Hills, two of the last remaining coastal strongholds for elephants, and deployed three new teams in the Tsavo Conservation Area. To ensure no area goes unpatrolled, we also fund fuel, rations, and supplies for eight teams operated by the KWS or local conservation partners.
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sw t / k ws ant i - poaching t e a ms In 2024, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams Tsavo Conservation Area Mtito - Tsavo Triangle, Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks (est. 1999) Peregrine - Trust land, Tsavo East National Park (est. 2001) Burra - Southern sector of Tsavo East National Park and surrounding ranch lands (est. 2002) Ithumba - Northern sector of Tsavo East National Park, including Ithumba Reintegration Unit (est. 2002) Tiva - Northern sector of Tsavo East National Park (est. 2004) Ziwani - Southern sector of Tsavo West National Park and surrounding ranch lands (est. 2004) Chyulu - Chyulu Hills National Park (est. 2006) Kenze - Kibwezi Forest Reserve Chyulu Hills National Park (est. 2013) Yatta - Northern sector of Tsavo East National Park, including the Yatta Plateau (est. 2016) Mobile North - Where most needed in the northern sector of Tsavo Conservation Area (est. 2016) Sobo - Central and western sectors of Tsavo East National Park (est. 2018) Mobile South - Northern sector of Chyulu Hills National Park and KARI Ranch (est. 2018) Chyulu Mobile - Where most needed in Chyulu Hills National Park, Kibwezi Forest, and KARI Kiboko Ranch (est. 2019) Mukururo - Northern sector of Chyulu Hills National Park (est. 2020) Thabagunji - Thabagunji area and Yatta Plateau (est. 2020) Lake Jipe - Lake Jipe area, bordering the Tanzania border (est. 2021) Dakadima - East of Tsavo, bordering Lali Hills (est. 2021) Kulalu - Southern border of Tsavo East National Park, within Kulalu and Galana Ranches (est. 2021) Kapangani - Galana Conservation Area and where needed (est. 2022) Umbi Mobile - Northern sector of Tsavo East National Park (est. 2023) Kulalu II - Galana Conservation Area, Shimba Hills, Arabuko Sokoke and where needed (est. 2023) Kichwa Tembo - Tsavo West National Park (est. 2023) Tsavo Mobile - Where needed in Tsavo (est. 2024)*
Shimba Hills Kwale - Shimba Hills (est. 2023)
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Kajiado - Arabuko Sokoke Forest (est. 2021, relocated 2023)
Nakuru-Naivasha Shompole - Naivasha, Soysambu and Lake Nakuru (est. 2021, relocated 2023)
Meru National Park Meru - Meru National Park and Mwea National Reserve (est. 2014)
Mau Forest Mau Forest 1 - Managed by Mara Elephant Project (est. 2018) Mau Forest 2 - Managed by Mara Elephant Project (est. 2019) * Denotes new team established in 2024
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sw t - fu nded , pa rtner - oper at ed ant i - poaching t e a ms : Tsavo Ecosystem Tsavo Rapid Response Team operated by the KWS
Mount Kenya Mount Kenya Rapid Response Team operated by the KWS Mount Kenya Team operated by Mount Kenya Trust
Mara Ecosystem Security scouts managed by Mara Conservancy
Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary 6 security scouts managed by Golini–Mwaluganje Community Conservancy
Nasaru Olosho Conservancy 20 security scouts managed by Nasaru Olosho Conservancy Trust
Amu Ranch 45 security scouts managed by Lamu Conservation Trust
In 2024 alone, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams helped apprehend 642 individuals involved in wildlife crimes, including 123 poachers. SWT rangers come from communities across Kenya. Each recruit undergoes training at the KWS Training Academy in Manyani. This intensive training program is designed to enhance their capabilities as versatile, bush-ready rangers. Over the course of three months, they complete rigorous training in bushcraft, navigation, drills, radio communications, first aid, basic law, wildlife education, and counter-terrorism. We outfit each team with a specialised 4x4 vehicle capable of handling rugged backcountry terrain. These vehicles log significant distances: In 2024 alone, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams collectively drove 484,898 kilometres — roughly the equivalent of driving around the entire perimeter of Africa 15.9 times in a single year. Each team also has a cook, a driver, and all the supplies they need to comfortably do their jobs. On patrol, each team is accompanied by two armed KWS rangers with the authority to make arrests. Using aerial and ground sightings, combined with intel from a carefully cultivated intelligence network, they pinpoint hotspots for illegal activity. Ambushes are strategically planned — rangers cut off escape routes and seize illegal paraphernalia, while KWS authorities carry out the arrests.
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The threat landscape is constantly evolving, driven by environmental factors and commercial demand. The breakdown of arrests in 2024 paints a telling picture: O f f e nc e
2 0 2 4 A r r e sts
Illegal Grazing
241 (37.5%)
Poaching
155 (24.1%)
Charcoal Burning
95 (14.8%)
Illegal Harvesting
70 (10.9%)
Logging
61 (9.5%)
Other Illegal Activities
20 (3.1%)
Total Arrests
642
In 2024, poaching accounted for nearly a quarter of all arrests. While illegal grazing made up over a third of total arrests, this also represented a 68.2% decrease from the previous year. This decline can be attributed to concerted efforts by the Kenya Wildlife Service to curb illegal grazing, as well as favourable conditions in the field. Meanwhile, charcoal burning, illegal harvesting, and logging — which are often ‘gateway’ activities to poaching — remained a low-level but persistent threat.
Lamping allows poachers to harvest wildlife in large numbers, which is then sold to illicit restaurants. Bushmeat commands higher prices than goat or beef, which further incentivises poachers to expand their take. In a single night, they can slaughter dozens of animals, often transporting them back to town on motorbikes. In response, Anti-Poaching Teams have stepped up night operations to catch poachers before they can carry out these brutal hunts.
While elephant and rhino poaching has declined significantly in recent years — a testament to dedicated efforts on the ground, supported by global initiatives — it is a threat that requires constant vigilance. Over the past year, Tsavo-based teams arrested six ivory poachers, though it must be noted that many individuals caught for other poaching offences would likely target elephants and rhinos if the opportunity presented itself.
Snaring also remains a pervasive threat. Long favoured by bushmeat poachers, snares have an indefinite lifespan. Anchored to a stable base, such as a tree trunk or heavy branch, they lie in wait before tightening like a noose around their victims. Snares are indiscriminate killers, trapping anything from the smallest dik-dik to the largest elephant. They work insidiously, inflicting severe injuries that hinder even the most basic functions, including eating, drinking, and moving. Without intervention, a snare can result in a slow, agonising death.
Mirroring trends seen in previous years, bushmeat poaching remains a leading threat. This cruel and unsustainable practice has escalated to a commercial scale, devastating wildlife populations and inflicting immense suffering. Poachers have increasingly turned to a tactic known as lamping, which, unlike snaring, is alarmingly effective and yields immediate results. On moonless nights, they use powerful torches to stun their targets, often accompanied by loud bells. Temporarily blinded and disoriented, the animal is left vulnerable, allowing the poacher to move in and kill it with a panga.
Our Anti-Poaching Teams play a crucial role in combating snares. They can detect subtle signs of poaching — disturbed ground, broken branches, and cleverly disguised snares — that would go unnoticed by most. In 2024 alone, rangers seized 14,326 snares, a 37.7% increase over the previous five-year average. While this figure reflects a rise in poaching activity, it also highlights the effectiveness of boots on the ground. Through their daily patrols, rangers confiscate snares that would otherwise continue to kill indiscriminately.
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Beyond conducting patrols, organising ambushes, and facilitating arrests, Anti-Poaching Teams also support wider field initiatives, from human-wildlife conflict to fire fighting to veterinary operations to orphan rescues. They bring professionalism, bravery, and utter commitment to every mission, helping us increase our impact and save even more wild lives. While 2024 brought some relief from human-wildlife conflict compared to a drought year, the issue remained widespread. Anti-Poaching Teams are the first responders in these mitigation efforts, often working alongside the Aerial Unit to guide wayward animals back into protected areas. Rangers temporarily remove sections of fencing to create a funnel, while a helicopter directs the animals through the opening. Anti-Poaching Teams also play a vital role in large-scale translocation efforts, providing essential on-the-ground support. In 2024, SWT rangers assisted with several elephant relocations, including a large bull and a family of three. In one particularly memorable operation, they helped facilitate the aerial translocation of a man-eating crocodile that had settled in a stretch of river frequently used by a Tsavo community. Elephants are the most frequent victims of humanwildlife conflict. Drawn by an easy meal — especially during the dry season — they stray from protected areas onto community land. These incursions can have serious consequences: A single elephant can destroy a farmer’s crops overnight, while encounters with humans can turn deadly for both sides. By mitigating these conflicts, AntiPoaching Teams save countless wild lives each year while also protecting communities and their livelihoods. Rangers have built strong relationships with local communities, fostering long-term benefits for conservation. Knowing they can count on our teams to respond swiftly to reports of marauding wildlife, people are far less likely to resort to violence. Throughout the year, Anti-Poaching Teams also assisted the SWT/ KWS Mobile Vet Units in 49 veterinary treatments, the
majority of which involved elephants, along with several orphan rescues. In the challenging field environment, rangers play a crucial role at every stage of the operation. During their daily patrols, they are often the first to spot an injured animal or detect subtle tracks indicating a patient in distress. They then monitor the animal before, during, and after treatment, providing status reports if follow-up care is needed. When required, SWT rangers also take on the role of firefighters. Bushfires can be catastrophic for habitats: A single blaze can wipe out tens of thousands of acres, claiming untold wild lives in the process. With aerial support, Anti-Poaching Teams battle these fires on the frontlines, extinguishing flames and rescuing displaced animals. In 2024, we responded to 114 fires. You can learn more about their efforts in the addendum story. Ivory recovery is another important facet of anti-poaching work. When teams uncover ivory — whether confiscated from poachers or retrieved from a deceased elephant — the tusks are recorded, collected, and handed over to the Kenya Wildlife Service for safekeeping. By securing ivory in a stockpile, the government guarantees it remains out of the hands of poachers and ivory traffickers. Last year, we introduced EarthRanger, a specialised software designed for data collection, management, and analysis in wildlife conservation. This tool enables realtime tracking of team movements, which are compiled into reports that offer a comprehensive overview of field operations. Importantly, EarthRanger also delivers immediate insights into wildlife crime trends and pinpoints hotspots for illegal activities. With a quarter century of anti-poaching operations to our name, we are entering a new era of fieldwork. Over the 25 years, our Anti-Poaching Teams have helped reshape landscapes and confront the most pressing threats to conservation. These challenges continue to evolve — as do our teams, adapting to tackle the threats of today while preparing for those of the future.
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Our Canine Unit has become a formidable force in Tsavo’s anti-poaching efforts. - 99 -
can i n e u n i t In the past five years alone, the Canine Unit has covered an impressive 7,588 kilometres on patrol. To put this figure into perspective, the dogs have collectively tracked roughly the distance from Seattle to London — and their dedication yielded 75 arrests in that five-year time period. Through their mere presence and targeted patrols, the Canine Unit is making a significant impact on the Tsavo landscape. Our anti-poaching operations began with a single Tsavo-based team in partnership with KWS. Building on the success of this initial unit, we steadily expanded the initiative across the country. To further enhance our capabilities, we established our Canine Unit in 2016. Also operated in partnership with KWS, this specialised team bolsters our efficacy in Tsavo through the power of scent-based tracking. As Kenya’s largest national park and a hub of extraordinary biodiversity, Tsavo is inherently vulnerable to wildlife crime. The mere presence of tracker dogs quickly proved to be a powerful deterrent to poachers and other offenders. In addition to a rotation of KWS dogs-in-training, we have two permanent members of our team, along with a third who was procured at the end of 2024 and joined the team early in the new year:
aya
T H E WO R K A H O L I C Born in 2018, this Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd mix is renowned for her unwavering focus and determination. A meticulous tracker, she works tirelessly and methodically, never losing sight of the trail.
zor a T H E TA N K
Born in 2018, this Belgian Malinois excels at detecting ivory, ammunition, and other contraband. She is strong and purposeful, yet beneath her powerful exterior lies a sensitive soul that requires a gentle touch.
bel a
T H E N E W R EC RU I T Born and recruited in 2024, this Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd mix was selected for her commitment, intellect, and love for the job. She will not join us in the field until early 2025.
The success of the Canine Unit hinges on our dog handlers, who have undergone rigorous training to be the ideal partner to their canine counterpart. The team is headed by a KWS Corporal and supported by armed KWS rangers, who accompany every patrol. When an operation results in an arrest, the KWS moves in to apprehend the suspect. The team is also staffed with a driver and a cook. The Canine Unit is fully mobile, equipped with a customised vehicle that can be deployed across the Tsavo Conservation Area. In addition, the team can be rapidly transported to remote locations by the SWT Aerial Unit. The dogs are well-acclimated to air travel and comfortably board both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters when needed. The Canine Unit operates in close coordination with our Anti-Poaching Teams. Guided by field intelligence, they embed with different teams as needed, addressing security concerns in key regions. The dogs bring unique skills to the field — namely, detection and tracking — which yields enhanced deterrence of poaching and other illegal activities in protected areas. The Canine Unit is stationed at a modern kennel facility within our Kaluku Field Headquarters, designed with the dogs’ comfort and safety in mind. The secure site features
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fly-proof kennels with snake-proof fencing around the outdoor runs, plus a climate-controlled system to maintain optimal temperatures. Handlers monitor the dogs’ vitals throughout the day, staying alert to any changes in their condition. We prioritise each dog’s emotional well-being, lavishing them with individual attention and enrichment. When not on duty, the dogs enjoy plenty of relaxation time, with grooming sessions and playful activities to keep them content. Ongoing training is essential to ensure both the dogs and their handlers maintain peak performance. The Canine Unit follows a strict weekly training routine, reinforcing established protocols and sharpening skills in tracking, detection, fitness, and discipline. The team gets one day off to enjoy a well-deserved rest and recovery. Each year, we invest in a six-week training course with external experts, allowing the team to refine their tracking skills and adapt to emerging threats. Given the constantly shifting tactics of poachers, staying one step ahead is essential. Zora and Aya, for example, have become highly skilled in motorbike tracking, which is a vital skill in capturing poachers on the move. Given the ever-growing needs in the field, we knew it was time to bring in another dog to round out the Canine Unit. Working with our trusted partners at Invictus K9, we assessed hundreds of trained tracker dogs based in the Netherlands. In the end, it was a gifted young German Shepherd / Belgian Malinois mix named Bela who got the role. We are very excited to welcome Bela into the team in early 2025.
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N o te s f r o m t h e f i e l d: FIRE SEASON
In 2024, we responded to a total of 114 fire cases, with more than 48,250 acres burned. Every acre lost is a tragedy, but it is important to put things in perspective: Four years ago, a blaze in the Chyulus destroyed 103,000 acres. Bushfires are a persistent challenge every dry season. While they can occur naturally, most are set by humans. Arsonists include herders burning to create new grazing pasture for livestock, farmers clearing land adjacent to the park, and poachers promoting new growth to attract animals or to create a distraction. Fires can also start accidentally: A cigarette thrown from a car window or a spark from a burning rubbish pile can have catastrophic consequences. The dry season turns the land into a veritable tinderbox. Left unchecked, a single blaze can devastate entire habitats — and all the animals that call them home. One bushfire can easily leave more than 10,000 acres of charred land in its wake. An early, exhaustive response is essential to prevent loss of land and life. Bush firefighting is hard work, and it requires teamwork. Dozens — sometimes hundreds — of people work side by side, on the ground and in the air, day and night. We work alongside the KWS, other field organisations, and community members to bring a fire under control. SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams are the first responders to bushfires. Rangers work on the frontlines, using beaters and backpack water sprayers to battle the flames. Our Aerial Unit provides support from the sky. The SWT helicopter is equipped with a Bambi Bucket to douse the fire from above, while our fixed-wing planes transport teams and equipment or scout the fire’s path. Even our machinery aids the effort: Water bowsers serve as fire trucks, while our digging and grading machinery carve out firebreaks to stop the blaze’s advance. Large animals like elephants can outrun bushfires, but smaller creatures are terribly vulnerable. Over the years, we have rescued all manner of animals — even a tiny chameleon — from the flames. We are currently caring for a young bushbuck at our Kaluku Unit, who was found cowering in a recent fire. He arrived quite singed but is now safe and settling in. Fire season isn’t over yet — we’ll only breathe a sigh of relief when the rains arrive. Earlier this year wasn’t as challenging on the fire front as in years past, but the past two months have more than made up for it. Our teams have been busy fighting fires across Tsavo and the Chyulus, working courageously and tirelessly to minimise their devastation. Every firefighting effort requires incredible bravery, dedication, and determination from our team. We would also like to extend a huge thank you to our supporters: You make it possible for us to respond swiftly to fire emergencies, saving swathes of habitats and countless wild lives across Kenya.
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a e r i a l o p e r at i o ns 9 fixed-wing aircraft 4 helicopters 4 full-time pilots 3,700 hours flown in 2024 319,380 kilometres covered in 2024
Launched in 2008, our Aerial Unit quickly emerged as the single biggest differentiator in our field-level impact. In a world increasingly dominated by human influence, Kenya stands out for its vast spaces where wildlife still reigns. This is especially true in the Tsavo Conservation Area, which is the country’s largest contiguous wilderness. Spanning more than 40,000 square kilometres — roughly the size of Switzerland — it is home to Kenya’s biggest population of elephants and a myriad of other species. Even the most skilled bushperson would struggle to tackle all the conservation challenges of these vast landscapes without aerial support. Many essential operations are nearly impossible — and certainly far less effective — if conducted solely from the ground. The terrain is simply too dense, the locations too remote to navigate on foot or by vehicle alone. This is where our Aerial Unit proves indispensable. Our aircraft are essential to our conservation efforts, enabling us to support the Kenya Wildlife Service and carry out a wide range of critical operations. This includes rescuing orphaned elephants, patrolling vast wilderness areas, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, responding to veterinary emergencies, evacuating injured personnel, extinguishing bushfires, and more. Far beyond flying aircraft, our pilots are also honorary rangers, rescuers, and first responders. Aircraft have been integral to our conservation efforts from the very beginning. David Sheldrick, founder of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, was an early proponent of aviation in conservation. As the founding warden of Tsavo National Park, he relied on a bush-friendly Super Cub to further his impact in the field. Fittingly, more than three decades after David’s tenure, it was another Super Cub that launched our Aerial Unit in 2008. The arrival of this aircraft marked a turning point in our operations, elevating our capabilities for conservation. In the 16 years since our Aerial Unit was established, our fleet has expanded to nine fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters. Each plays a vital role in our conservation operations:
CubCrafters Top Cub (5Y-DTP): The Top Cub has become the benchmark of backcountry surveillance, flying in and out of rugged surfaces with ease. Our pilots spend up to six hours at a time in slow flight, cruising around 60 MPH. The all-around visibility of this aircraft makes it perfect to patrol the vast landscape of Tsavo.
CubCrafters Top Cub (5Y-NRC): In 2023, we added a second Top Cub to our aerial fleet. The NRC is based at our Lali Headquarters in Galana. It is used to patrol Galana and Kulalu Ranches, the Arabuko Sokoke Forest, and other vulnerable landscapes in the area.
Piper Super Cub (5Y-STP): This aircraft is an original Super Cub that has been modified and modernised, including increased gross weight, bigger engine, and a ‘wide body’ conversion, which adds four
inches to cabin width. It is a firm favourite amongst our pilots, as she handles beautifully and just wants to get off the ground and fly.
Piper Family Cruiser PA14 (5Y-TRA): This is a larger four-place version of the standard Super Cub. Fitted with huge, 35-inch tundra tyres, this aircraft is ideally suited to carry three people and their gear. It is fantastically versatile and a favourite amongst our pilots.
CubCrafters Carbon Cub FX3 (5Y-STR): Cub Crafters took a Carbon Cub and added a slew of features, including constant speed propeller, wider cabin space, higher gross weight capacity, and modern avionics, to make one of the most amazing bush planes on the market today. The FX3 takes our patrolling of the Tsavo landscape to a new level.
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CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX3 (5Y-STB):
Airbus AS350 B3 (5Y-CXP):
The FX3 proved to be so essential to our field operations that, in light of our increased operations across the Tsavo landscape and further afield in Kenya, we added another to our fleet. The EX3 is just like its sister, the FX3, except it was assembled by a professional aircraft builder in South Africa and then was flown north to Kenya by one of our pilots. EX3 has already made a marked impact in our fleet.
The addition of CXP, our first helicopter, was a gamechanger. It is an incredibly versatile aircraft, powerful and capable of accomplishing a wide range of tasks. In anti-poaching operations, it drops rangers and dogs in remote sites. In human-wildlife conflict operations, it shepherds wildlife back into protected areas. During fire-fighting efforts, it drops water on fires with a Bambi Bucket. It can sling-load cargo into difficult to access areas; conduct medical evacuations, taking them from site directly to hospital; and support our veterinarians, providing a perfect platform to dart wildlife from the air. If there was one piece of equipment that has dramatically changed our operations for the better, it would be this helicopter.
Cessna 206 (5Y-CFZ): The 206 is Cessna’s infamous ‘truck.’ Like the Cessna 185, the 206 is renowned for its reliable, load-carrying capabilities, making it a favourite amongst many bush pilots. We use this aircraft to carry personnel to places that are further afield or, for example, to fly one of our tracker dogs and a handler on a specialist operation.
Cessna ‘Baby’ Caravan 208 (5Y-STW): The Caravan is widely regarded as the premier medium-sized bush plane. Robust and versatile, it can carry eleven people or very heavy cargo — such as an orphaned elephant — in and out of rugged terrain. The vast majority of our orphan rescues have been flown in a Cessna Caravan. Equipped with the latest avionics technology, this aircraft can safely fly in most weather conditions and night operations. It is also equipped with a Life Port system for medical evacuations.
Cessna 185 (5Y-FLY): 5Y FLY is a robust aircraft that can carry heavy loads in and out of unprepared airstrips. It has STOL (short take off and landing) conversions fitted that make it perform well when you need to access remote bush airstrips. This is vital when dropping a vet, his assistants, and all their gear to treat an injured animal, for example.
Airbus AS350 B3 (5Y-KUI): Due to great demand, we have extended our field initiatives in collaboration with KWS beyond the Tsavo ecosystem. This helicopter — another B3 — brings the same versatility and readiness as CXP. It also ensures consistent aerial coverage and expands our reach across the country.
Airbus AS350 B3E (5Y-SWZ): A 2024 addition to the Aerial Unit, the new B3E is even more powerful than its predecessors, which makes it shine in high-altitude operations, and comes with a dual hydraulic system. With this new helicopter, we are able to safely and efficiently cover a wider variety of wildlife areas in Kenya. Given the ever-growing demands in the field, it became clear that the Aerial Unit would benefit from another B3 helicopter to ensure consistent and comprehensive aerial coverage across a wider range of habitats. In November, the newest addition to our fleet arrived in Kenya: 5Y-SWZ, an Airbus AS350 B3E.
Airbus EC120B (CXT): CXT is the smallest of our helicopters, which makes it flexible and more economical to fly. It is ideal for surveillance, patrol work, responding to human-wildlife conflict, medical evacuations, and deploying rangers and sniffer dogs. If conditions are right, it is used in many veterinary cases to dart wildlife from the air.
The B3E model offers significant upgrades to the highly successful AS350, particularly in terms of power. This makes it especially well-suited for high-altitude operations, which is an important consideration in Kenya. For instance, the Maasai Mara sits at approximately 6,000 feet above sea level, and its high
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midday temperatures can push the density altitude — the altitude the engine perceives — up to 9,000 feet or more. At higher altitudes, engine performance decreases, making the B3E’s enhanced power a vital asset. With 5Y-SWZ, we can conduct conservation operations more safely and effectively in Kenya’s higher-altitude regions. The helicopter is equipped with a dual hydraulic system, which provides back-up in case of hydraulic failure. We have also fitted it with ‘FastFin,’ a bolt-on tail section feature that improves power efficiency, availing more utilisable power for operations. Our aerial work is highly technical and conducted in challenging conditions. These additional features significantly enhance our capabilities. Already, 5Y-SWZ has proven its value in the field, enabling us to operate at greater heights with even greater effectiveness. In 2024 alone, our pilots flew 2,400 hours, covering 303,985 kilometres. To put that figure into perspective, that is the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe more than 7.5 times in a single year. Every flight has a mission, be it a security patrol of the landscape or a response to a field emergency. Over the course of the year, our pilots spotted 76 injured elephants in Tsavo and were the architects of their subsequent treatments. That averages to 1.5 elephants a week — cases that would have gone unnoticed without aerial detection. Additionally, the Aerial Unit helped extract 27 elephants from dams and wells, ranging from full-grown bulls to family groups to tiny calves. 2024 began on a busy note. In January, as the rains came to an end and the park began to dry out, we witnessed a sudden uptick in poaching activity, cattle incursions into protected areas, and other illegal activities. As a direct result of this increase in poaching activity, the Aerial Unit was also busy assisting veterinary interventions for several elephants suffering from arrow wounds. A certain highlight of January was the sighting of an infant black rhino, born to one of the free-release rhinos in Tsavo East National Park. Every new rhino is a celebration and a testament to the conservation work being done to protect and foster this fragile population. Later in the month, a pilot also spotted one of the more remote black rhinos in the park, who had gone unobserved for over three months. In February, no fresh poaching
activity was observed during aerial patrols. Despite this, four elephants injured in poaching attempts were sighted by fixed-wing pilots. Three required helicopter assistance to dart and treat, while the fourth was in an open area where a fully ground treatment was possible. Two other elephants, including a young adult bull suffering from a snare wound, were also treated with aerial assistance. Following January’s welcome trend, human-elephant conflict cases were relatively few in February, with only two groups of ‘problem elephants’ attended to in five separate incidents. One family group of three elephants was earmarked for translocation, as they had resisted all attempts to be pushed back into the park by helicopter. The other group of eight was successfully guided out of the community and back into the fence with the helicopter. Early 2024 brought unusually bountiful rains that transformed the landscape. This led to a surge of elephants to areas that had long been underutilised due to drought. To see such large, healthy herds — numbering in the hundreds — was a hugely encouraging sign of the times. Throughout the rainy season, these aggregations gave way to even greater dispersal and distribution of elephants. March was a busy month for our Aerial Unit. Notable operations included two missing persons searches, five veterinary cases, a rhino conservation exercise, two bushfires, along with the usual support for humanwildlife conflict mitigation, anti-poaching operations, and daily patrols. During one memorable patrol, our pilot flew home with two unexpected passengers: a pair of orphaned ostrich chicks who had been discovered by a herder boy. In March, the Aerial Unit played a key role in a largescale rhino conservation effort in the Maasai Mara. As part of their rhino monitoring protocol, KWS aims to notch the ears of 60% of any rhino population for identification, while also fitting a select number with LoRa transmitters for easier tracking. Two SWT pilots supported the seven-day operation — one flying a fixedwing aircraft for tracking and coordination, the other piloting a helicopter for searching and darting rhinos. Together, they logged 60 flight hours and covered 6,447 kilometres. The operation was a success, with 13 eastern black rhinos notched and/or fitted with LoRA transmitters in their horns.
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April was a relatively quiet month, with no major change in the presence of illegal livestock in the parks. However, the overall trend remains positive, particularly compared to previous years. Charcoal burning continued to pose a significant challenge in buffer areas around the parks, as did illegal mining—an activity that can be surprisingly difficult to detect due to the abundance of old, disused mines, which often appear indistinguishable from fresh sites. The Aerial Unit also assisted in two elephant rescues during April: one involving a young adult stuck in a muddy drainage beside a road in Tsavo West, and another, an even younger adult, that had fallen into a waterfilled mine on Kuranze Ranch. In both cases, the SWT helicopter transported critical equipment and supported the ground operation. The Kuranze rescue, detailed in the Mobile Veterinary Unit section, was among our most challenging operations to date. It is remarkable how rarely our teams now encounter poached elephants. A decade ago, poached carcasses were found weekly — sometimes even daily. Today, despite our increased team covering more ground and logging more flight hours, pilots often go months without discovering a single poached elephant. In May, the dry season began to take hold across Tsavo. The Aerial Unit had a busy month, between illegal activity callouts, veterinary treatments, firefighting, and increasing human-elephant conflict. In one instance, pilots guided approximately 50 elephants away from community settlements and back towards the park. Rapid intervention is crucial in cases of human-elephant conflict, as is persistence. Elephants have a mind of their own and many are unmoved by the whir of a helicopter. Our pilots must be precise and patient, flying low enough to guide the elephants towards openings in the fenceline without causing panic. The challenge intensifies when an entire group of unruly bulls is involved, as is usually the case. Despite the difficulty, our pilots are experts in human-wildlife conflict mitigation, with a high success rate in safely relocating elephants from community land. Closer to Kaluku, the family group of three elephants earmarked for translocation was finally moved after repeatedly resisting attempts to be guided back to the park. The fixed-wing aircraft assisted in locating them, while the helicopter was used to dart the trio and direct them toward ground teams. Once sedated, all three were
loaded onto a crane truck and trailer and relocated a short distance into the park. June was a particularly busy month on the veterinary front, with eight treatments requiring aerial support. Hearteningly, very little fresh poaching activity was discovered during the month, although several veterinary cases indicated poaching along the peripheries of protected areas. In June, the helicopter was deployed to assist a desperate community along the Athi River after two people were killed by a crocodile. Our pilot skilfully slung a lion trap onto the opposite riverbank from where the attacks occurred. On the first attempt, a smaller crocodile was captured and released within the park. The second attempt yielded a 13-foot crocodile, which was positively identified as the culprit. Due to her size, she was slung in the trap by helicopter and relocated to a remote area deep within the park, far from human settlements. July was another busy month supporting veterinary treatments, mostly snare victims. Other notable activities included firefighting, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, a medevac, and the sighting of a newborn black rhino calf. July also saw the culmination of a veterinary operation nine months in the making, thanks to a keen aerial sighting. You can read the full details of the operation in Notes From the Field at the end of this section. A highly unusual aerial operation in July began with the discovery of an illegal mine. Upon landing, the team found a large stash of food and mining equipment concealed beneath a plastic sheet. To their surprise, they also discovered a live pangolin, stashed inside a sack. On the black market, these highly endangered creatures fetch a high price for their scales, which are used in Chinese medicine. The pangolin was rescued, given time to rest and rehydrate, and then successfully released into a suitable habitat. Unsurprisingly, given the dry season, August was a very busy month. Notable activities included eight elephant veterinary treatments — all of which were successful — along with one elephant translocation, several antipoaching missions, and the rescue of an elderly man who had got lost on KARI Ranch. Over the course of the month, the team also fought four bushfires from the air and supported the rescue operation of an elephant mother and her calf, who had fallen into a well on Kuranze Ranch.
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In September, the Aerial Unit supported the rescue of 14 elephants stuck in wells and dams. As the dry season came to a head, animals were more likely to take risks in search of water. Support involved flying personnel, water pumps, and other equipment to remote areas to coordinate the rescue of stuck elephants. In the most dramatic case, our team hired an excavator, which did not arrive on the scene until 10pm. It was not until 2am the following day that the elephants were successfully freed from their predicament. The youngest among them would have surely drowned if not for this timely intervention. A little orphaned elephant named Wamata is alive today because of an aerial patrol. On 12th September, our fixedwing pilot spotted an infant calf near the Tiva River. She was alone and in visibly poor condition. After confirming the absence of other elephants in the area and noting her clear signs of malnourishment, a rescue operation was coordinated. A ground team arrived by vehicle to assist with the capture, while the SWT helicopter airlifted Wamata to our Nairobi Nursery. While elephant rescues abated as the rains arrived, the Aerial Unit assisted in three more cases in October. Once again, these elephants had fallen into community wells and become hopelessly stuck. The SWT helicopter flew to the scene and directed the rescue effort. A lowbed truck and backhoe were deployed from Voi, where they dug a ramp out of the dam to extract the elephants from their predicament. The team also returned to a now-familiar location on Kuranze Ranch to rescue another elephant from one of the many wells there. The helicopter arrived with equipment and personnel, successfully lifting the animal to safety. Pilots observed a slight uptick in poaching activities in October, including multiple poachers’ harbours, along with human and motorbike tracks inside the park. All of these sightings were subsequently followed up by ground teams. The Aerial Unit also responded to three fires in remote, hard-to-access areas. November brought the onset of the rains — late, but gratefully received. Even so, it was a very active month for the Aerial Unit. Activities included several firefighting operations, human-elephant conflict mitigation, and eight veterinary treatments. Another indication of the extended dry season was the addition of one more well
rescue: The team was called to rescue a young elephant from Kuranze Ranch. With aerial support, the calf was successfully rescued and reunited with his family. Due to the extended dry season, the Aerial Unit responded to several late bushfires, including five in Chyulu Hills National Park and two in Tsavo East. Two of the Chyulu fires were tackled with the helicopter, which made a total of 13 bambi-bucket water drops and delivered 25 pack sprayers to ground teams to assist in fighting the fire. Separately, while responding to the first Tsavo East fire, one of our fixed-wing aircraft spotted a second fire nearby and a harbour belonging to the arsonist responsible. In total, the Aerial Unit responded to 39 fires throughout the year. Livestock in the park, which had been relatively under control for most of the year, made a dramatic return for the worse in November. Over ten thousand head of cattle moved into both Tsavo East and West National Parks to take advantage of fresh grass and abundant waterholes. Removing them becomes especially challenging for KWS during the rainy season, as vehicles struggle to navigate the muddy conditions in the bush. In November, the Aerial Unit supported a five-day black rhino conservation operation in Tsavo West. The fixedwing aircraft assisted in identifying rhino candidates for ear notching and provided aerial guidance to the helicopter and ground teams, helping them access and dart the rhinos in dense bush. Much like the Mara operation earlier in the year, ear-notching will make the rhinos identifiable to field teams, aiding in their monitoring and conservation. December was a typically quiet month, as the rains brought some respite from illegal activities. Nevertheless, the Aerial Unit remained busy with routine patrols, search-and-rescue missions, veterinary treatments, and anti-poaching operations. While no fresh poaching activity was detected, rangers deployed during a helicopter patrol uncovered a small number of old snares on the Yatta Plateau. A unique rainy season activity observed in December was the illegal cultivation of marijuana in patches of forest within Chyulu Hills National Park. In previous years, marijuana plantations were more widespread and extensive, but sustained efforts by our ground teams have significantly reduced this activity. Now, only a few small plots are found each year.
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While human-elephant conflict remains a persistent challenge, we saw marked progress compared to the year prior. Over the course of 2024, pilots responded to 436 ‘problem’ elephants in 72 cases — a 61.7% decline in reported incidents from 2023. This improvement is a testament to the proactive measures in place to mitigate human-elephant conflict, but also reflects the generous conditions in the field, which made elephants less likely to venture onto community land in search of food and water. Aircraft are the vital link in nearly all our habitat protection and field operations. The challenges are many and great, but our guardians in the sky are dedicated to the task at hand. Working with the KWS and our trusted field partners, they put in the hours, every single day, to secure Kenya’s largest national park and its wild denizens.
The better part of a century ago, David Sheldrick championed the powers of aviation for conservation. Today, much remains unchanged.
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Habitats, once lost, are gone forever — and with
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sav i n g ha b i tats Beyond the nationally protected parks and reserves we help safeguard, we also directly protect over 2 million acres of wilderness.
Mirroring broader challenges across Africa, habitat loss has emerged as the greatest threat to Kenya’s wildlife. A Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife report documented a 68% decline in wildlife populations within Kenya’s savanna ecosystems over a 40-year period (1977–2016). While the extent of decline varied among species, some of the most dramatic losses occurred in warthog, lesser kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, oryx, topi, hartebeest, impala, Grevy’s zebra, waterbuck, elephant, and buffalo across Kenya’s rangelands. The figures are sobering — yet it is also important to recognise that Kenya sets a high standard for conservation. The country boasts 27 national parks, 34 national reserves, and a vast network of protected areas and sanctuaries. Unlike many African nations, Kenya’s government values its natural heritage and has a long history of supporting conservation. We work extensively to enhance conservation in Kenya’s national parks and reserves, particularly its largest, Tsavo East National Park. As we often say, these parks and reserves are the beating heart of Kenya’s natural world. But a heart is nothing without its arteries. No wilderness should be an island; elephants and other animals are migratory by nature, following ancient paths etched through generations. That is where buffer zones — the arteries to Kenya’s heartlands — come in. Our Saving Habitats efforts focus on threatened ecosystems across the country, especially those bordering national parks and other protected areas. Many of these landscapes are critical rangelands for elephants — earth’s largest land animal and one of its most vulnerable to habitat loss. However, they are also areas of immense biodiversity, providing a home for countless other species. Working alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service, along with key stakeholders, local communities, and fellow conservation organisations, we are committed to securing Kenya’s endangered habitats. Our efforts include implementing on-the-ground conservation management, erecting fencelines to protect wildlife areas and mitigate human-wildlife conflict, and providing financial support to empower community-led conservation initiatives.
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ha bi tat in i t i at i v es in the tsavo conservat ion a r e a : Galana & Kulalu Ranches 1.8 million-acre ranchlands that make up the ‘eastern frontier’ of Tsavo East; conservation support provided in collaboration with ADC
Galana Wildlife Conservancy 60,000 acres sharing an unfenced border with Tsavo East; managed in collaboration with ADC
KARI Ranch 63,321 acres at the foothills of the Chyulu Hills; managed in collaboration with KALRO
Kibwezi Forest Reserve 18,000-acre groundwater forest adjacent to the Chyulu Hills; managed in collaboration with the KFS
Peregrine Conservation Area 5,500-acre buffer zone for Tsavo East; fully managed by SWT
Shumba Valley Conservancy 67,890-acre conservancy in Taita-Taveta; ongoing anti-poaching and security support provided since 2023
South Kitui National Reserve 457,816-acre on the northern border of Tsavo East; supported by extensive SWT aerial patrols to combat illegal activities
ha bi tat in i t i at i v es i n o ther conservat ion a r e as : Amu Ranch 63,000-acre mangrove forest on the north Kenya coast; support to Lamu Conservation Trust to manage the ecosystem
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve 104,000-acre tropical coastal forest; conservation support provided in collaboration with the KFS
Mau Forest 675,000-acre montane forest; funding of anti-poaching operations in collaboration with Mara Elephant Project
Maasai Mara 370,000-acre national reserve in south-west Kenya; veterinary, security, and operational support funded in collaboration with Mara Conservancy and the KWS
Meru Rhino Sanctuary 21,000-acre rhino sanctuary within Meru National Park; funding of fenceline expansion, security enhancements, and veterinary and anti-poaching operations
Mount Kenya Kenya’s highest mountain and its environs; veterinary and anti-poaching support in collaboration with the KWS and Mount Kenya Trust
Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary 6,100-acre elephant corridor adjacent to Shimba Hills; funding of land lease and security scouts
Shimba Hills 74,132-acre coastal forest and national reserve; funding of security fence, managed in collaboration with the KWS
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ga l ana & ku l a lu r anches / ga l ana w il dl ife conservanc y Location Eastern border of Tsavo East National Park, extending towards the coast
Total size 2 million acres
Ecological significance Galana/Kulalu Ranches stretch along almost the entire eastern boundary of Tsavo East, collectively covering 2 million acres that extend towards the coast. They share an unfenced border with Tsavo East, meaning wildlife can roam freely between the park and the ranches. It is an important habitat for elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, wild dogs, leopards, and plains game. The security of Galana/Kulalu is inextricably linked with the security of its neighbouring national park.
Galana and Kulalu Ranches form the eastern frontier of the Tsavo Ecosystem. These vast, mixed-use ranches sit atop each other, bisected by the Galana River, with Galana Ranch to the north and Kulalu Ranch to the south. Together, they cover 2 million acres, sharing an unfenced western border with Tsavo East and extending nearly to the coast. Galana-Kulalu essentially form a continuation of Tsavo East, with wildlife roaming seamlessly between the national park and the ranchlands. Insecurities in the ranches also affect Tsavo. Galana and Kulalu Ranches are managed by the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), a parastatal responsible for overseeing sustainable agricultural development in Kenya. The land is designated
for mixed use, supporting selective ranching activities that complement conservation efforts. However, it is a vast landscape, and ADC lacked the resources to adequately focus on the conservation aspect. Spanning 60,000 acres, Galana Wildlife Conservancy is an annex of Galana Ranch. In May 2021, we were asked by its board of directors to assume management of the conservancy. However, it soon became evident that to truly secure Tsavo’s eastern frontier, we needed to work across both Galana and Kulalu as a whole. In recent decades, illegal activities had taken hold in the ranches. Bushmeat poachers saw it as open season, using snaring and the lethally effective lamping to kill scores of creatures in a single night. This, combined with illegal
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cattle incursions from the north and extensive charcoal burning, turned Galana-Kulalu into a shell of a habitat. Thus, as we continued to build upon our conservation efforts in Galana Wildlife Conservancy, we also reached a second arrangement with ADC, granting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust the responsibility of managing the conservation mandate for both Galana and Kulalu Ranches. The indomitable Mark Jenkins spearheaded the early work on the ground until his devastating passing in December 2022. We knew the best way to honour Mark’s legacy was to continue the work he started. As we transformed Lali Base into a vibrant field headquarters to anchor our efforts, we got to work clearing roads, grading airstrips, building dams, and reseeding grasslands. We implemented a school lunch program for local students and showed our neighbours that we were also there to support them — the 2023 river rescue of a truck driver marooned in the flooded Galana River stands out as a highlight. At the core of this infrastructure work was the establishment of an extensive ground and aerial presence. Four permanent SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching
Teams maintain a constant level of vigilance in the wider Galana-Kulalu region: Dadadima (established 2021), Kulalu (2021), Kapangani (2023), and Kulalu II (2023). We also installed a permanent aircraft at Lali Base to ensure comprehensive aerial coverage. As rangers were deployed across the landscape, pilots monitored the skies. Together, they conducted daily patrols, scouted illegal activities, and sent the message that it was no longer open season on Galana-Kulalu. Transformation does not happen overnight, but three years into our conservation mandate on Galana-Kulalu, we are already seeing tangible results. The environment is flourishing into a very healthy ecosystem — a testament to the resilience of our natural world. We simply protect the landscape; nature does the rest. In our early days on Galana, we were thrilled when a lone bull buffalo showed up at Lali Camp. Now, herds numbering into the hundreds have taken up residence in the area. Single elephant sightings once caused excitement; now, it’s easy to lose count during a patrol. Zebras, giraffes, and plains game have also returned in prolific numbers, which also brings an increased number of lions, leopards, and other predators. These are tangible reminders of the success we have already realised in a relatively short timeline.
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kari r anch Location: Northern border of Chyulu Hills National Park
Total size: 63,321 acres
Ecological significance: KARI Ranch begins in the northern foothills of the Chyulu Hills, to the immediate northeast of the Kibwezi Forest, which is one of Kenya’s last remaining groundwater woodlands and home to our Umani Springs orphaned elephant unit. KARI is an important dispersal area for the Chyulu Hills and a gateway to the Tsavo Ecosystem.
KARI Ranch is a 63,321-acre wilderness located across the foothills of the Chyulu Hills. Given that it sits within a zone of recent volcanic activity, it is of marginal agricultural use. However, it is a favoured rangeland for a variety of wildlife — much of which comes from Chyulu Hills National Park, which lies to the immediate south. While the Chyulu Hills are a pristine habitat, they lack ample surface water. As a result, wildlife frequently venture to KARI Ranch to drink and forage. These animals could include our very own orphans. Umani Springs, our third Reintegration Unit for orphaned elephants, is located within the nearby Kibwezi Forest Chyulu Hills. When orphans reclaim their place in the wild, KARI Ranch will become part of their preferred rangelands. In 2019, we finalised a 25-year lease with the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Institute (KARLO) to manage the conservation mandate of KARI
Ranch. Years of human-wildlife conflict, illegal livestock grazing, charcoal burning, bushmeat and ivory poaching, and human encroachment had severely impacted the landscape. These issues largely stemmed from KARI’s eastern border, which abutted community farmland and was unfenced at the time. Our first priority was to construct an elephant exclusion fence along the challenging eastern boundary. Spanning 43 kilometres, the fenceline has proven to be an immediate success for both wildlife and the people living alongside them. It effectively deters elephants from leaving the protection of KARI Ranch, while also preventing crop-raiding on neighbouring farms, which has significantly reduced cases of human-wildlife conflict. Askaris, stationed at seven fence outposts, conduct daily patrols to ensure the fence is properly maintained.
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The Kibwezi Forest is an area of rich biodiversity.
We also completed a 2,100-metre elephant exclusion fence around Kari Headquarters and school, a 4,000-metre fence around Kiboko, a 7,100-metre elephant exclusion zone along the western boundary, and are in the process of erecting a 1,000-metre fence to mitigate livestock predation and elephant encroachment in an area that was historically vulnerable to humanwildlife conflict. Other important works included the establishment of a new community road to replace the original, which ran through the middle of the ranch and created security vulnerabilities. We also created a new security road to improve accessibility for field teams and erected a centrally located ranger camp for our SWT/ KWS Anti-Poaching Teams working in the landscape. As works on KARI Ranch continued to expand, it became apparent that the landscape lacked the infrastructure to provide ample water to support both the projects and the wildlife within the area. For this reason, we established
two new boreholes, one at the ‘Yellow Thorn’ site and another at the ‘Pool’ site. Both are fully operational and powered through a solar pump system. Two SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams — Mobile South (established 2018) and Chyulu Mobile (2019) — provide coverage in KARI Ranch. Their presence has brought its most pervasive issues, such as bushmeat poaching and illegal grazing, under control while serving as a strong deterrent against other illegal activities As KARI Ranch demonstrates, successful conservation benefits both wildlife and local livelihoods. Before our presence in the landscape, human-elephant conflict was rampant. Today, these incidents have been reduced to zero. Patrol teams have reported a notable increase in populations of elephants, eland, hartebeest, zebra, and giraffe. We are hopeful that the resident rhinos of Chyulu Hills National Park will eventually venture into KARI Ranch, as it extends into their traditional rangelands.
kibwezi forest reserve & chyulu hills Location: Northeast extension of Chyulu Hills National Park
Total size: 18,000 acres
Ecological significance: The Kibwezi Forest is one of Kenya’s last remaining groundwater woodlands. The Umani Springs, located within the forest, is a vital water source for local human and wildlife populations. It is also home to our Umani Springs Reintegration Unit, our third re-wildling centre for orphaned elephants.
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In 2008, we were presented with the opportunity to manage the conservation of the Kibwezi Forest in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service. During her first visit, Daphne Sheldrick famously remarked, ‘I honestly cannot see the potential.’ It was easy to understand her perspective: Years of illegal activities had reduced the forest to a shadow of its former self. However, the stakes were too high to let the Kibwezi Forest go to waste. Together with the Chyulu Hills, this area is a vital lifeline for southern Kenya. Its volcanic springs sustain life both near and far, supporting local communities and even supplying water as far as Mombasa for coastal populations. Upon assuming management of the Kibwezi Forest, our immediate priority was to erect fencelines. The purpose was twofold: To prevent human incursions that led to illegal activities within the forest and to protect bordering homesteads from wandering wildlife, which often resulted in human-wildlife conflict. These fencelines connect the forest to Chyulu Hills National Park, effectively expanding the park while also creating a much-needed buffer for the neighbouring community. In total, we have erected and continue to maintain 77.8 kilometres of fencelines throughout the Kibwezi-Chyulu landscape. In 2013, we established the SWT/KWS Kenze AntiPoaching Team, based full-time in the Kibwezi Forest. Thanks to their dedicated presence in the landscape, bushmeat poaching and other illegal activities were quickly brought under control. The following year, we established Umani Springs, our newest reintegration unit for orphaned elephants, in the Kibwezi Forest. The forest’s gentle environment makes it an ideal habitat for orphaned elephants — particularly those who are physically compromised — to reclaim their place back into the wild. Currently, Umani Springs is home to six stockade-dependent orphaned elephants and 11 semi-independent / ex-orphans living wild.
Over the past two years, our extended elephant family has grown significantly. In March 2023, Umani’s matriarch and original orphan resident, Murera, gave birth to a healthy little girl named Mwana. Given Murera’s compromised condition, mother and baby remain closely connected to the dependent herd. In December 2024, Lima Lima and Sonje welcomed beautiful babies of their own, Lenny and Sulwe. While both mothers now live fully wild lives, they still choose to link up with the dependent herd most mornings. All three babies are the result of unions with wild bulls, and we know more grandbabies are on the way—a testament to how seamlessly our orphans are accepted by wild elephant populations. To deepen community engagement and generate even more local employment opportunities, we established a Kibwezi Women’s Beekeeping Group in 2021. Women from the local community are employed to look after the apiary’s 30 hives. The proceeds from honey sold go back into community projects. The Kibwezi Forest is also home to a tree nursery, which nurtures saplings that are then planted in degraded areas that need help with reforestation. Tree plantings are a collaborative initiative, engaging participants from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, and, crucially, individuals from the local communities. In 2024, we planted 69,986 seedlings nurtured in the Kibwezi Forest Nursery. Wildlife sightings are a telling barometer of a landscape’s health. When we first began our work in the Kibwezi Forest, spotting a single elephant was a rare event. Today, it is an everyday occurrence. Even traditionally cautious family herds with tiny calves in tow have become familiar visitors around the Umani stockades. Seeing such a transformation in just 16 years is truly heartening.
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peregrine conservation area Location: Corner of Tsavo East National Park, at the intersection of the Mtito and Athi Rivers
Total size: 5,500 acres
Ecological significance: The Peregrine Conservation Area makes up a small but vital extension of Tsavo East National Park along two borders, where the Mtito and Athi Rivers meet. It provides an essential buffer zone for the park’s vulnerable corner boundary, which would otherwise be surrounded by human habitation at the junction of the rivers.
The Peregrine Conservation Area lies at the heart of the Tsavo Triangle. Established in 1997, it serves as a key buffer zone for two segments of the Tsavo East National Park boundary while also housing our field headquarters. Today, it encompasses approximately 5,500 acres of protected land. This conservation area provides a crucial transition zone in a landscape that would otherwise act as a funnel for human-wildlife conflict. Situated at the confluence of the Mtito and Athi Rivers, it forms a vulnerable triangle of land bordered by human settlements on two sides, making it prone to human-wildlife conflict and illegal incursions. By maintaining this buffer, we help safeguard both wildlife and the neighbouring communities.
The Peregrine Conservation Area is also home to our Kaluku Field Headquarters, the central hub for our Tsavo-based operations. It houses our Aerial Unit, Canine Unit, Kaluku Orphan Unit — which cares for neonate orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and other wildlife — our Operations Room, vehicle garage, store, and essential personnel. On the periphery of the conservation area lies Tsavo Farm, which we revitalized in 2019. This sustainable farm supports the local community by providing employment and promoting eco-friendly agriculture. A dedicated tree nursery grows over 600 indigenous trees for reforestation, while a 17,000-litre aquaponics system allows crops to thrive with just 10% of the water required for traditional farming. The farm also sustainably raises chickens and goats.
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Additionally, we are expanding our Community Petal Project at Tsavo Farm, in which we sustainably grow and harvest bougainvillea petals. This initiative creates jobs for local women while generating conservation funds through the sale of the petals. When we first established the Peregrine Conservation Area, illegal activities were widespread. Today, signs of human interference are rare. The area now thrives as a haven for wildlife, with regular sightings of leopards, lions, large buffalo herds, and breeding elephant families. In a remarkable sign of trust, zebra and antelope herds often choose to rest on the Kaluku compound lawn, recognising it as a safe refuge.
amu r anch Location: North coast of Kenya, near Lamu
Total size: 63,000 acres
Ecological significance: Amu Ranch is home to some of the greatest biodiversity on the African continent. It is one of the world’s largest and oldest mangrove forests. Mangroves are essential natural pillars that stabilise the coastline and prevent erosion. They also provide an important habitat for a variety of marine and land creatures.
Nestled on Kenya’s north coast, Amu Ranch is home to one of the world’s largest mangrove forests. This diverse habitat supports a wide range of marine and land species, from small elephant herds to thriving populations of reticulated giraffe, Cape buffalo, topi, and eland. It is also home to some of East Africa’s most genetically diverse lions, including the maneless Tsavo lions and the striking blue-eyed Somali lions. Like many coastal landscapes, Amu Ranch has faced increasing pressure
from encroachment, development, and illegal activities. Yet, unlike much of northern Kenya’s coastline, it has thus far avoided the widespread deforestation that has devastated similar habitats. However, safeguarding this vulnerable ecosystem requires active management and on-the-ground protection. Since 2012, we have partnered with the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, and local stakeholders
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to protect Amu Ranch. We provide financial support and management expertise to the Lamu Conservation Trust (LCT), a community-led organisation focused on marine conservation and wildlife protection in the greater Lamu region. Our funding has enabled the development of vital infrastructure, including a network of roads, security camps, and outposts. We also support 28 scouts in Lamu who patrol the landscape, ensuring its continued protection. In 2020, we launched an ambitious tree-planting initiative to regenerate Amu’s coastal mangrove forests. Partnering with Eden Reforestation Projects, we have planted over 14 million mangroves in Lamu to date. Over the past four years, this initiative has flourished, restoring thousands of acres of degraded mangrove habitat that had been lost to illegal logging, charcoal burning, and flooding. Our initial plantings began in the Milihoi Channel, which extends into Amu Ranch. We explored potential sites by air, boat, and foot, identifying areas suited for large-scale restoration. This effort was carried out by a dedicated local team who had previously formed a ‘beach management’ volunteer unit to protect their mangrove forest. Having sought support from SWT in the past, it was fitting that they became the driving force behind this reforestation project.
Mangroves, which can live for over a century, serve as critical breeding grounds for fish, shellfish, migratory birds, and even sea turtles. Their intricate root systems stabilise shorelines, slow erosion, and provide natural barriers against flooding, making them essential for both biodiversity and coastal communities. Given that fishing is central to life in Lamu County, protecting these forests directly benefits both people and wildlife. Additionally, with the ability to store three times more carbon than an equivalent area of tropical rainforest, mangroves play a crucial role in combating climate change. We have also expanded Amu Ranch’s tree nursery. Now capable of producing 260,000 trees per year, the nursery focuses on strategic replanting within Amu Ranch. Despite initial challenges, including security concerns and a prolonged drought, activities are steadily ramping up. The recent construction of a large water reservoir, capable of holding millions of litres of rainwater, will sustain the nursery through dry seasons. This initiative has also provided significant employment opportunities. To date, it has created over 75 full-time jobs for local community members, along with seasonal work for those involved in seed collection and tree planting during the rainy season.
ar abuko sokoke forest Location: Central coast of Kenya, near Watamu
Total size: 104,000 acres
Ecological significance: The Arabuko Sokoke Forest is the largest single block of indigenous coastal forest remaining in East Africa. It is a stronghold for endangered species, including the golden-rumped elephant-shrew, the Sokoke dog mongoose, and the Ader’s duiker, along with a rare population of coastal elephants. Not long ago, lush forests stretched along the entire East African coastline. Today, the Arabuko Sokoke Forest stands as the largest remaining fragment of this once-extensive habitat. Covering more than 100,000 acres, it is a significant stronghold, especially given the widespread fragmentation of coastal forests. Located just inland from Watamu, the forest is home to an extraordinary array of flora and fauna, including many rare and endemic small mammals, such as the golden-rumped elephant shrew. Remarkably, about 200 elephants live within the Arabuko Sokoke Forest, which is a rarity so close to Kenya’s coastline. However, years of illegal activity have taken a toll on the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Completely surrounded by human settlements, it faces mounting pressure along its boundaries, contributing to habitat degradation and human-wildlife
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conflict. Illegal logging, charcoal production, and bushmeat poaching continue to threaten its biodiversity. Securing the forest’s future requires strengthening aerial and ground patrols, improving infrastructure, reinforcing its boundaries, and implementing a comprehensive conservation strategy. In 2022, we finalised a co-management partnership for the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). Last year, this partnership was formalised with the signing of a Framework for Collaboration. To establish a strong field presence, we deployed our SWT/KWS Kajiado Anti-Poaching Team (established 2021) to the forest, where they are now stationed fulltime. Additionally, the newly established Kulalu II AntiPoaching Team (2023) will be deployed as needed. Our Galana-based pilot conducts regular aerial patrols over the forest, with support from the broader Aerial Unit for targeted operations.
Before our involvement, KFS teams operating in the forest lacked vehicles, severely limiting their mobility for patrols and security operations. To address this, we provided two new Land Cruisers, which are maintained by the Trust and operated by Trust drivers. We have also created and cleared security roads to improve accessibility for all teams. While our work in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest is still in its early stages, we are already seeing progress. This year, we laid the groundwork for larger conservation efforts, beginning with infrastructure improvements. The most significant was the establishment of two new boreholes, which provide water for wildlife, and the rehabilitation of Nyari Viewpoint to enhance the tourist offering. Looking ahead, our most significant undertaking will be the installation of a 100-kilometre electric fence around the forest’s perimeter. This will help secure its vulnerable boundaries and reduce human-wildlife conflict, ensuring long-term protection for both the forest and the neighbouring communities.
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maasai mar a national reserve Location: South-west Kenya, bordering Tanzania
Total size: 370,000 acres
Ecological significance: An area of spectacular biodiversity, the Mara is one of Africa’s greatest tourism destinations and the stage for the Great Migration.
The Maasai Mara is one of the most important ecosystems in Kenya, a landscape that rightly earns its place among East Africa’s most renowned wild spaces. Home to hundreds of species, including exceptional populations of elephants, leopards, lions, and cheetahs, the Mara is a cradle of life. And yet, all that hangs in the balance. Like so many landscapes across Africa, the Mara is caught in the crosshairs of human expansion. While the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Mara Triangle, and many surrounding Maasai conservancies and group ranches remain protected, development and cultivation continue to chip away at the greater Mara ecosystem. This inevitably drives an uptick in poaching, snaring, and most notably, human-wildlife conflict, as animals unwittingly venture outside protected boundaries and come into contact with communities.
We have long been active in spearheading and supporting Mara conservation efforts: Our SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit has become a life-saving force within the ecosystem. Since it was established in 2007, it has attended to more than 2,181 wild patients. Meanwhile, our Aerial Unit regularly responds to field incidents, from veterinary emergencies to orphan rescues. In 2024, two SWT pilots supported a largescale rhino conservation initiative in the Mara. Utilising a fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter, they facilitated the identification and aerial darting of 13 black rhinos. These individuals were ear-notched and fitted with radio transmitters in their horns, enabling field conservation personnel to better monitor their movements. Effective conservation is a patchwork of projects and partnerships. We are proud to work with fellow field players to tackle the formidable threats facing the
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Mara. In the spirit of collaboration, we fund security scouts operated by Mara Conservancy. These rangers proactively patrol the landscape, respond to illegal activities, and act as a powerful deterrent. In 2023, we donated two security vehicles through the Mara Conservancy. The fully customised, four-wheel drive pick-up trucks are used by Narok County for
predator surveillance and protection within the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with a focus on its vulnerable cheetah population. This is a direct response to the growing pressures on the Mara’s big cats, from humanwildlife conflict to high-density tourism. This year, the teams reported that the vehicles helped them more closely monitor predators and rapidly respond to field incidents.
mau forest Location: Rift Valley, southern Kenya
Total size: 675,000 acres
Ecological significance: The Mau Forest is the largest montane indigenous forest in East Africa. It is a headwater for over a dozen critical rivers, including the Mara River, which supports the wildlife and human communities of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystems.
The Mau Forest is the largest forested area in Kenya and its most important water catchment. Located in the heart of the Rift Valley, it fuels the main rivers that provide water to the western region of the country. Humans depend on the Mau Forest for their survival, but it is human actions that put its very existence at risk. Over the past half-century, nearly 37 percent of the forest’s original area has been lost. Many perennial rivers have become seasonal, while clear-cutting of trees has led
to soil erosion and flooding. Propelled by steep gradients, eroded soil laden with pollutants and agrochemicals end up in the Mara River, which is the primary water source for countless wildlife and millions of people. The pressures facing the Mau Forest are many and varied, ranging from land encroachment for settlements to forest degradation through grazing, fires, illegal logging, and poaching. To face these challenges head-on, we teamed
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up with Mara Elephant Project in 2018 to establish the Mau Anti-Poaching Team. Following the success of this initial team, we deployed a second team in the ecosystem the next year. These Anti-Poaching Teams exemplify how boots on the ground can transform an unprotected area. Indeed, their impact was immediate. Not only did the team support the arrest of poachers, the seizure of ivory, and the removal of snares and other contraband, but their mere presence acted as a powerful deterrent. One of the most impressive side-effects was the buy-in from communities surrounding the Mau Forest. There was a huge turnout for the recruitment of the second Anti-Poaching Team, and we have since trained an outstanding team of rangers. At last, local citizens feel inspired and empowered to help protect the wilderness on their doorstep.
meru rhino sanctuary Location: Meru National Park, northern Kenya
Total size: 21,000 acres
Ecological significance: An enclave within Meru National Park, the Meru Rhino Sanctuary provides a vital refuge for both black and white rhino populations. Protected areas like Meru play a crucial role in the recovery of critically endangered black rhinos, a species that remains highly vulnerable to poaching.
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Meru Rhino Sanctuary is a reminder that no cause is truly lost. From a population of zero rhinos not that long ago, it is presently home to 100 white and 45 black rhinos.
Meru National Park was established in 1966, around the same time that Elsa the lioness made it a household name. Beyond the big cats who dominate the kopjes and crocodiles who preside over the river, a wide array of creatures, wild and wonderful, call the park home. From elephants, caracals, aardwolves, cheetahs, leopards, and giraffes, over 500 animal species and 720 plant species can be found in Meru. Historically, Meru was a stronghold for Kenya’s eastern black rhino. It was considered to have the highest concentration of the species in northern Kenya, with over 200 individuals in the park alone, not taking into account the peripheral areas. That all changed in the 1970s, when a wave of poaching swept across Africa. Driven by demand for rhino horn in the Far East, poachers targeted known concentrations of the species. Between 1970 and 1983, 98 percent of Kenya’s black
rhino population was killed. A nationwide population that once numbered 20,000 dwindled to just 350 in a little over a decade. Meru National Park suffered the greatest. The stronghold had become a graveyard: Poaching eradicated nearly all the park’s black rhino population. Between 1974 and 1979, 125 carcasses were recorded in Meru alone, with untold numbers that went undiscovered. By the early 1980s, all the black rhinos on the periphery of Meru had been killed, leaving an estimated five scattered survivors inside the national park. By the turn of the century, both rhino species were locally extinct in Meru. It could have ended there. Fortunately, Kenya is a country that takes great pride in its natural heritage. It took an intensive approach to rhino conservation by establishing new populations within dedicated rhino sanctuaries.
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These secure, fully fenced sanctuaries were set up in former rhino ranges, allowing reintroduced populations to breed naturally and create their own territories. Meru Rhino Sanctuary began with one white rhino, named Mokora. White rhinos, which had long been extinct in Kenya, were reintroduced to the country in the 1960s from South Africa to support conservation efforts. From the reintroduction of a single rhino, Meru Rhino Sanctuary was born. A founding population of six white rhinos were brought to Meru from Solio Ranch in 2001. In the years that followed, a further 20 white rhinos were introduced from Lake Nakuru National Park, Lewa Downs, and Solio Ranch. Once a white rhino population had successfully been established within Meru, it was time to reintroduce black rhinos back into their traditional rangelands. As with white rhinos, they began with one male, Kalele, who was also translocated from Lewa Downs. In 2005, 20 black rhinos were brought to the sanctuary from Lewa Downs, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Nairobi National Park. This was the tricky part: Unlike their stolid cousins, black rhinos are notoriously mercurial. Much to everyone’s relief, however, they embraced their new home largely without incident. But even as the population within Meru Rhino Sanctuary flourished, threats loomed. In the early 21st century, a second wave of poaching dented Africa’s already fragile rhino population. Between 2008 and 2015, at least 5,940 rhinos were killed across the continent. To help the rhino population recover, protected sanctuaries were the solution. In 2017, we funded a large-scale project to upgrade and extend the fenceline securing Meru Rhino Sanctuary, doubling its size from 35 square kilometres to 83 square kilometres. In 2022, we funded an additional extension, bringing the total fenceline extension to 48.6 kilometres. The state-of-the-art electric fenceline includes 20 strategic corridors that allow the free movement of animals, except for rhino, in and out of the sanctuary. These corridors were placed in known wildlife routes, essentially turning the sanctuary into a seamless — yet high-security — enclave within the wider Meru National Park. A rhino sanctuary is only as effective as its security. As we installed Meru’s state-of-the-art fenceline, we also built four security bases dotted along its perimeter. KWS
rangers guard the sanctuary day and night, while SWT funds a full-time staff of 12 who monitor the fenceline every single day for any breaks or security breaches. Where we can, we also support KWS operations in Meru National Park, donating two Land Cruiser security vehicles, vehicle upgrades and maintenance, ranger camping gear, and other essential equipment. Our wider support for Meru National Park has spanned more than a decade. In 2013, we established a SWT/ KWS Mobile Veterinary Unit in Meru. To date, the team has attended to 1,244 animals, including 242 rhinos. Operations include ear-notching exercises, translocations, and treatments for injuries and illness. In 2014, we installed permanent ‘boots on the ground’ in Meru: our SWT/KWS Meru Anti-Poaching Team. Rangers conduct daily patrols to uncover illegal activities, confiscate snares, gather intelligence, and support field conservation efforts. Their mere presence also acts as a powerful deterrent to would-be poachers and other perpetrators. Enormous efforts go on behind the scenes to secure Meru Rhino Sanctuary and the wider national park. All the while, the rhinos go about their daily lives, unaware of all the work going on to ensure their safety.The sanctuary may be fenced, but sitting within, you would never know it: It feels vast, untouched, and utterly wild. Through the years, Meru’s rhino population has begun to flourish of its own accord. Adults are breeding, babies are being born, and the next generation of rhinos is taking root. We hope, in the fullness of time, that all Kenya’s rhinos are again able to roam freely across the country’s protected lands. But for now, Meru Rhino Sanctuary is giving them a place to recover and repopulate In fact, it has turned into an important feeder for other rhino populations across the country. Meru Rhino Sanctuary is a reminder that no cause is truly lost. From a population of zero rhinos not that long ago, it is presently home to 100 white and 45 black rhinos. In 2024 alone, six black rhinos were born within the sanctuary. This little jewel very much represents a species saved from the brink — and, we hope and believe, with an entire future ahead of them.
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mount kenya Location: Central Kenya
Total size: 690,895
Ecological significance: Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest on the African continent. It is an important water tower and home to a wide range of wildlife, including a thriving population of elephants.
Instantly recognisable for its hulking, craggy outline, Mount Kenya is an icon of the African wilderness. But even a 17,000-foot mountain is no match for human encroachment. Over the past several decades, Mount Kenya National Park has effectively become an island, surrounded by dense settlements and agriculture. Mount Kenya Trust was established to forge a future for the ecosystem, driving conservation and reducing conflict between local communities and the creatures who live alongside them. It spearheaded the Mount Kenya Elephant Corridor, a 14-kilometre elephant migration route that effectively extends the mountain’s footprint for wildlife, connecting it to the Ngare Ndare Forest, Borana Ranch, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and beyond to Samburu National Reserve. Over 1,000 elephants use the route each year. Through regular mobile camping patrols, Mount Kenya Trust effectively secures the mountain, elephant corridor, and surrounding areas
against pervasive threats. They respond to any emergency calls within the region, tackling poaching issues and illegal activities, while also supporting elephant rescues and veterinary interventions. However, these teams require proper funding to do their important work. Since 2017, we have supported Mount Kenya Trust and their camping patrols by subsidising the team’s equipment, rations, fuel, and logistics. We have also donated two Land Rover Defender 4x4 vehicles to the team, which have taken their daily operations to the next level. As we fund efforts to tackle illegal activities, we also work to support the animals caught in the crosshairs. In 2017, we established the SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit. This team has made an important mark on the landscape, attending to more than 2,145 animals since its inception.
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shimba hills and mwaluganje elephant sanctuary Location: South coast of Kenya, south of Tsavo East National Park
Total size: 80,232 acres
Ecological significance: Shimba Hills National Reserve is one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa and home to the highest density of elephant population in Kenya. Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, which sits due north, serves as an important corridor for elephants and other wildlife between Mwaluganje Forest Reserve to the north and Shimba Hills to the south. The Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary are the focus of our latest large-scale conservation initiative. As one of Kenya’s last substantial coastal forests, the Shimba Hills provide a vital refuge for diverse wildlife. Together with Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary to the north, they also serve as an important sanctuary for Kenya’s coastal elephants. Following the ivory poaching crisis of the 1970s and 1980s, many elephants sought refuge along the coast. The forested Shimba Hills have remained a steadfast, albeit small, stronghold for the species. However, human encroachment has progressively fragmented the landscape, restricting the natural migratory route back to Tsavo. The remaining landscape was highly vulnerable to development — which would have had catastrophic implications for coastal elephants and other creatures. Thus, when the opportunity arose to secure Mwaluganje, the Shimba Hills, and the 800acre corridor that connects them, we leapt at the chance. The success of conservation efforts in Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje is deeply rooted in community engagement. Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is a community-owned initiative, where local landowners lease their property to a community-based trust. Our first priority was to increase annual compensation payments to landowners and subsistence farmers participating in the programme. Additionally, we fund wages for sanctuary staff and rangers and provide essential infrastructure support. In early 2024, we completed a major project: Securing the Shimba Hills Conservation Area with a 117-kilometre electric fence. This extensive undertaking, which spanned nearly two years, was essential to conservation efforts, as the old fence had fallen into disrepair and lacked oversight. With support from KWS, local village chiefs, and Mwaluganje’s leadership, an educational campaign was launched to inform local communities about the project’s benefits. Throughout the project, local communities responded positively, recognising that
the new fence would allow them to cultivate their land right up to the reserve boundary without the constant threat of crop raids by wildlife. In the long run, this fence will help mitigate human-wildlife conflict and improve local livelihoods. To ensure the fence’s long-term effectiveness, we constructed 11 outposts at regular intervals. From these bases, full-time fence attendants patrol both sides of the fence, maintaining its functionality and reporting wildlife movements or potential breaches. In response to persistent threats in the area, we established the SWT/KWS Kwale Anti-Poaching Team in 2023. With a permanent base in the landscape, this team is dedicated to security efforts. Additionally, the Kulalu II Anti-Poaching Team is deployed to the Shimba Hills as needed. Daily patrols have already reduced illegal activities, notably bushmeat poaching and charcoal burning. Community scouts from Mwaluganje also play a crucial role in these efforts. To enhance their effectiveness, we provided them with new uniforms to establish a more cohesive presence and introduced improved training methods. These scouts now conduct intensified daily foot patrols, covering six to eight kilometres per day. To further support conservation efforts, we installed two new boreholes in 2023. These strategically placed water sources encourage elephants and other wildlife to remain within protected areas, helping to reduce human-wildlife conflict along community borders. With a strengthened SWT presence, intensified patrols, and the completion of the electric fence, the future of Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje looks promising. As the habitat is further restored, there is potential for the reintroduction of additional wildlife, which in turn could drive more visitors to the area. Increased tourism would provide valuable economic benefits for the local community and further discourage illegal activities.
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wat e r f o r w i l d l i f e In Kenya, water is an increasingly scarce resource. The seasons have always been characterised by stark contrast: Long dry spells, reprieved by a month or two of rain. Typically, the long rains arrive in March through May. They tide over the landscape until late October through December, when the short rains arrive. Historically, droughts were only a periodic occurrence — a severe but necessary way of regulating wildlife populations and helping land recover. However, human activities have changed the natural order. Climate change is unfolding before our eyes: Here in Kenya, long-established weather patterns have been replaced by a climactic toss-up. Dry seasons are growing longer, rains come late, scarcely, or not at all; and droughts are more frequent. Climate change undoubtedly contributed to the drought that defined 2021, 2022, and the beginning of 2023. Faced with an increasingly uncertain climate, Water for Wildlife, our supplemental water program, helps us forge a path forward. Working in consultation with hydrology experts and the Kenya Wildlife Service, we implement tailored water solutions in areas that struggle with limited or irregular rainfall. Water for Wildlife has made an immeasurable difference in the Tsavo Conservation Area. While Tsavo, with its vast, untouched spaces, provides an ideal habitat for all manner of creatures, huge swathes of the park lack natural drinking sources during the dry season. Without suitable water, even the most ideal habitat cannot support long-term habitation. We install boreholes in places where aquifers are plentiful, but surface drinking water is scarce. Sustainably powered by wind and/or solar, and augmented by generators where needed, pumps tap into subterranean water tables. Water is then filtered up into nearby troughs and pans, which are designed to accommodate creatures great and small. To date, we have drilled and/or rehabilitated 48 boreholes across Kenya — including 14 sunk and equipped in the last five years alone. Of these, 34 are managed and maintained by SWT, including weekly cleanings and maintenance checks.
swt - funded boreholes : • Maungu - Tsavo East National Park (1996) • Balguda - Tsavo East National Park (1996) • Ndara Windmill - Tsavo East National Park (1997) • Aruba KWS - Tsavo East National Park (1997) • Dika - Tsavo East National Park (1997) • Satao - Tsavo East National Park (1997) • Kanderi - Tsavo East National Park (1997) • East Gate - Nairobi National Park (1997) • Voi Gate 1 - Tsavo East National Park (1998) • Ithumba KWS HQ - Tsavo East National Park (2000) • Aruba - Tsavo East National Park (2001) • Dida Harea - Tsavo East National Park (2001) • Kaluku 1 - Peregrine Conservancy (2006) • Kamboyo - Tsavo West National Park (2006) • Ndiandaza 1 - Tsavo East National Park (2007) • Kaluku Airstrip - Peregrine Conservancy (2010)
• Ithumba Airstrip - Tsavo East National Park (2010) • Nairobi 1 - Nairobi National Park (2011) • Ithumba Mud Bath - Tsavo East National Park (2011) • Voi Gate 2 - Tsavo East National Park (2013) • Nairobi KWS - Nairobi National Park (2014) • Ndiandaza 2 - Tsavo East National Park (2014) • Kampi ya Mawe - Peregrine Conservancy (2015) • Tiva - Tsavo East National Park (2015) • Ithumba Stockades - Tsavo East National Park (2015) • K9 Unit - Tsavo Triangle (2015) • Didea Windmill - Tsavo East National Park (2016) • Amu 1 - Amu Ranch (2016) • Amu 2 - Amu Ranch (2016) • Kalovoto - Tsavo East National Park (2017) • Taita Hills - Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (2017) • Kenze 1 - Kibwezi Forest Reserve (2017)
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• Kenze 2 - Kibwezi Forest Reserve (2017) • Thabagunji - Tsavo East National Park (2019) • Mbololo - Tsavo East National Park (2019) • Shimo la Shetani - Tsavo East National Park (2019) • Nairobi 2 - Nairobi National Park (2020) • Rhino Base - Tsavo East National Park (2020) • Kiasa - Tsavo East National Park (2021) • Galana - Galana Widlife Conservancy (2021)
• Voi Safari Lodge - Tsavo East National Park (2021) • Rhino Valley - Tsavo West National Park (2021) • KARI Pool - KARI Ranch (2022) • KARI Yellowthorn - KARI Ranch (2022) • Shimba Hills 1 - Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary (2023) • Shimba Hills 2 - Shimba Hills National Reserve (2023) • Dzunguni - Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve (2024) • Jilore - Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve (2024)
We strategically locate each watering point far from communities, drawing wildlife deeper into protected areas. With the dry season comes an inevitable increase in human-wildlife conflict, as elephants and other creatures venture onto community land in search of food and water. By creating water sources deep within the park, we are able to mitigate these oft-lethal encounters. Boreholes can also support area conservation initiatives, supplying water for field teams and facilities. In areas where boreholes are not a viable solution, we bring in water on wheels. Our bowsers source water from a borehole or well-flowing river, which they then distribute in protected areas. We have a fleet of eight bowsers, five of which have a holding capacity of 20,000 litres. Bowsers are essential in delivering water to our Ithumba and Voi Reintegration Units, which serve older dependent orphans, ex-orphans, and wild elephants. In total, we have the capacity to rapidly transport 124,000 litres of water. Large-scale water distribution in a vast wilderness like Tsavo is an enormous undertaking, requiring dedicated, fulltime resources. Every ten days, our field teams conduct service checks of all water projects, cleaning troughs and tuning equipment as needed. Meanwhile, our drivers have carefully orchestrated daily routes, delivering water across the Tsavo Ecosystem. In 2024, we installed two new boreholes in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. This small-but-vital coastal habitat is largely surrounded by communities. During the dry season, human-wildlife conflict is a persistent challenge, as elephants and other creatures venture onto community land in search of food and water. The establishment of these new drinking sources, which are located deep within the forest, will alleviate this challenge. We also forged ahead in the Tsavo Wetlands Project, an ambitious undertaking to abstract sustainable amounts of water from the Athi River (which runs along the western side of the Yatta Plateau), convey it over the Yatta Plateau, and deliver it to the plains on the eastern side, where elephants and other animals can access water in a safe part of the park. This project was designed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, which has become a growing threat on the western side of the Yatta Plateau. During the dry season, elephants converge upon this area — which also happens to share a border with community land. With the availability of drinking water on the eastern side of the Yatta Plateau, we expect that fewer animals will venture over the plateau and onto community land. The project is ongoing. Other notable Water for Wildlife works in 2024 included the rehabilitation of the Tsavo West IPZ borehole, the purchase of a new Mercedes water bowser truck, the installation of a new water truck at Manyani for wildlife, a new water solar system at Aruba, new solar power units for Chyulu 2 and Tsavo River Gate, and the replacement of Chyulu water pump. The two boreholes that were drilled in the Shimba Hills last year are up and running and have already become a favourite destination for local wildlife.
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S U P P O RT FO R
th e k e n y a w i l d l i f e s e r v i c e We have a long-standing partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), leveraging our expertise and resources to support conservation initiatives in protected areas nationwide. As Kenya’s authority for wildlife conservation and management, KWS is responsible for safeguarding the country’s wildlife and enforcing related laws and regulations. Beyond our extensive joint conservation projects, we provide substantial financial support to strengthen KWS’s field operations. While our collaboration initially centred on the Tsavo Conservation Area, in recent years, we have expanded our efforts to address conservation challenges across Kenya.
h u m an - w i l dl i f e c on f l ict m i t ig at ion Human-wildlife conflict has become one of the greatest threats to wildlife, particularly elephants. As human settlements expand, competition over resources has intensified, especially during the dry season when elephants venture onto community land in search of water and food. Without swift intervention, these encounters can be fatal for both humans and wildlife.
relationships with local communities, who report wildlife incursions to our teams or KWS. Upon receiving a report, we coordinate an aerial and/or ground response to push elephants back into protected areas. When that is not possible, we mount a full translocation, darting the elephants, loading them onto a truck, and transporting them to safety.
To address this growing challenge, we launched the Tsavo Elephant Translocation Unit in 2020. This specialised team is on call to assist KWS in relocating ‘problem’ elephants. While in situ intervention is always the first approach, there are cases where elephants cannot be safely pushed back into protected areas using vehicles or helicopters. In such instances, our Elephant Translocation Unit is mobilised. Over the years, we have also supported the KWS Animal Capture and Translocation Unit by donating vehicles and equipment to enhance their capacity.
In 2024, our Aerial Unit responded to 436 ‘problem’ elephants in 72 cases. In a single operation in May, the team pushed approximately 50 elephants away from community settlements and back towards the park. May also saw the translocation of an elephant family of three, the details of which are outlined in Notes From the Field at the end of this section.
Despite the favourable conditions in the field, humanwildlife conflict remained a persistent challenge throughout 2024. We have worked hard to build strong
In July, the Aerial Unit scrambled to shepherd a group of five bull elephants back into the Shimba Hills. The elephants had wandered into community land and were being chased by an angry mob. Thanks to swift intervention, loss of life was averted. These are just two examples of human-wildlife conflict operations that unfold on a weekly basis.
f e nce l i n e s Fencelines are one of the most effective tools for conservation. These ‘wild borders’ benefit both wildlife and the communities who live alongside them. Not all landscapes can be fenced — in certain areas, it is essential that natural migratory movement of movement is unimpeded — but fencelines are indispensable on
precarious boundaries. Over the years, we have financed the construction, patrolling, and continued maintenance of over 450 kilometres of fencelines across Kenya. These wild borders prevent human-wildlife conflict and inhibit poaching, charcoal burning, logging, livestock incursions, and other illegal activities within protected areas.
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FE N C E S FI N A N C ED / C O N S T RU C T ED BY S W T Protected Area Human-wildlife conflict mitigation electric fences: Tsavo East National Park – Northern Area Nairobi National Park – HQ Kibwezi Forest Reserve & Chyulu Hills Tsavo East National Park – Voi Tsavo West National Park – IPZ KARI Ranch Shimba Hills National Reserve Tsavo East National Park – HQ Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve
Length (km)
Date
63 16.7 77.8 17 18.5 49.5 117 20 110
2001 2011; 2023 2011; 2018 2015 2020 2020-2021; 2024 2021-2023 2017; 2024 2024 (ongoing)
48.1 30
2017-2018; 2022 2023-2024
2.2
2014
Rhino sanctuary electric fences financed by SWT: Meru National Park – Meru Rhino Sanctuary El Karama Ranch Beehive fences financed by SWT: Mtito Andei – Tsavo Triangle
Last year, we completed a 117-kilometre fenceline securing the Shimba Hills Conservation Area—our largest fencing project to date. Throughout the project, the teams received positive feedback from local communities, who welcomed the new fenceline. As they shared, it will enable them to cultivate and farm their land right up to the park boundary. Previously, this had been impossible, as their crops were frequently targeted and destroyed by wildlife. This year, we began the early stages of a similarly ambitious fenceline project, securing the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Like the Shimba Hills, this critical coastal habitat is largely surrounded by community land, which puts both its wildlife and people at risk. The fenceline will largely mitigate the human-wildlife conflict that plagues the area. We employ more than 80 locally engaged, full-time staff who are responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of SWT fencelines. Teams are in constant radio communication with the corresponding SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Unit, who are positioned nearby to respond to any security breaches. Most fencelines have been constructed along protected parks and reserves, with a focus on areas that struggle with human-wildlife conflict or illegal activities. Successful fenceline implementation and management requires resources. First, there is the upfront investment to construct the fenceline. Then, there must be dedicated patrols to ensure their ongoing maintenance and security. However, given how successful they are at protecting habitats and communities, they are well worth the investment.
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The wildlife corridor within the Meru Rhino Sanctuary
fence inhibits rhinos but enables all other wildlife to pass.
ope r at iona l an d i n f r ast ruct u r e su pp ort In addition to partnering with KWS on large-scale conservation projects, we also fund essential operational and infrastructure support that underpins the success of these initiatives. We support both one-off and ongoing conservation efforts through the donation of vehicles, equipment, and supplies, as well as by using SWT resources to rehabilitate and upgrade KWS infrastructure. These contributions enhance KWS operations and amplify conservation efforts across Kenya. In 2024, support included:
Vehicle and Equipment: • • • • • • • • •
Purchased an Isuzu prime mover and trailer dedicated to wildlife rescue operations Donated 20 Land Cruisers to KWS in partnership with the Chantcaille Foundation (official handover in 2025) Provided KWS rangers with 50 four-man tents, 200 bedrolls, chairs, and tables (official handover in 2025) Donated one Isuzu 4x4 truck Supplied tyres for the Tsavo West KWS water bowser Donated tyres for the Meru Rhino Sanctuary vehicle Rehabilitated a vehicle for the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary Installed a new tank and diesel pump system at Ithumba Provided extensive fuel support for KWS vehicles in Tsavo East (Northern Area), Tsavo West, and the Chyulu Hills
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• Supplied fuel for the KWS Tsavo Rapid Response Unit and the KWS Tsavo East Company Commander • Rehabilitated the KWS Motomo Land Cruiser, the KWS Tsavo East Rapid Response Unit Land Cruiser, and the KWS Tsavo East Company Commander’s Land Cruiser • Ongoing servicing of KWS vehicles, including Land Cruiser pickups and one water bowser
Operations: • Funding the IPZ Tsavo East Radio Network upgrade as a donation to KWS • Donated an extensive radio system at Ngulia Mountain • Installed a digital radio system on Ithumba Hill to provide KWS with comprehensive radio coverage in the Northern Area, similar to the system on Ngulia Mountain • Published the new Greater Tsavo Conservation Area map, a vital tool for conservation personnel • Conducted extensive SWT-funded clean-up exercises around rivers and conservation areas, removing over 433,200 kilograms of rubbish and flood debris from Tsavo’s riverbanks • Provided firefighting support, with SWT ground and air teams responding to 114 fire incidents this year
Construction and Road Works: • Rehabilitated the KWS Ithumba HQ, including extensive renovations and new buildings • Funded and executed the construction of a new 10 km road in the Tsavo West IPZ, from Ngulia to the road parallel to the Mombasa Road, using the SWT bulldozer and grader • Purchased a new Isuzu truck to support roadwork crews operating in Tsavo • Rehabilitated and upgraded the KWS Thabagunji Ranger Base in Tsavo East National Park • Completed renovations at the Lake Jipe camp, awaiting commissioning • Refurbished the Rhino Base in Tsavo East, including the borehole • Carried out upgrades and maintenance of roads and airstrips throughout the Greater Tsavo Conservation Area • Established a new major road network spanning 800 km in Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, extending to Tsavo River and into Tsavo West
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N o te s F r o m t h e F i e l d
M OV I N G A M O T H E R E L E P H A N T A N D H E R C A LV E S T O S A F E T Y
In May, we accomplished a massive translocation operation, moving a family of three elephants off community land and back to the safety of Tsavo East National Park. This operation had echoes of a very complex translocation that unfolded in late 2023, moving an elephant family of four from the same area. Like their predecessors, we had tried dozens of times to push this family of three — a mother, her ten-year-old calf, and her five-year-old calf — through the fence and back into Tsavo East. Also like their predecessors, they flatly refused to cooperate. Translocations are a last resort, only to be mobilised in situations where elephants cannot be safely pushed back into protected areas by vehicle or helicopter. Over the past eight months, our teams had tried time and again to shepherd the family back into the park. Even the most unruly bulls can usually be coaxed in a certain direction, but this matriarch would not be persuaded. The family had been living on community land for upwards of a year. In early 2023, the county government erected a new fenceline along community land bordering the Tsavo ecosystem. While this is ultimately a positive development to alleviate human-wildlife conflict, some elephants were ‘marooned’ on the community side during the fenceline’s construction. We have moved as many as possible back into the park, but this family remained a persistent fixture on community land. On 3rd May 2024, an aerial patrol found that the family was in a good position for a translocation. With the greenlight from KWS, the SWT helicopter flew to the scene, while ground teams got in position. Dr Limo of the SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit darted the family from the air, beginning with the mum, then the eldest calf, and finally the youngest calf. Mum and baby were lifted onto the SWT crane truck, while the older calf was put on our tractor trailer. From there, the rest of the operation unfolded like clockwork. Moving in a slow procession, the convoy drove back into the park. The family were revived side-by-side and stood up as a group, before moving off into the bush together. This sector of Tsavo East is familiar territory for them and very much part of their old stomping grounds, so they will feel right at home within the park. Because we were able to seize a small window of opportunity, human-wildlife conflict was averted and this elephant family is out of harm’s way.
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Our goal is always to save lives and, wherever possible, keep wild families together. In this case, monumental action was required to achieve that. - 157 -
c o m m u n i t y o u t r e ach Successful conservation and community support go hand-in-hand. Over one-third of ruraldwelling Kenyans live below the poverty line. These are the people who live alongside wildlife — but as they struggle to make ends meet, conservation falls low on their list of priorities. Indeed, many have an adversarial relationship with elephants and other creatures, viewing them as a threat to their lives and livelihoods. We are committed to creating a sustainable future for both wildlife and their human neighbours. Our focus is on communities bordering Kenya’s national parks and protected areas, ensuring that conservation efforts also enhance their quality of life. This support includes local employment opportunities, education initiatives, food distribution programs, and conservation solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.
c om m u n i t y ho spi ta l d onat ion In rural parts of Kenya, healthcare can be difficult to access. That’s why we proudly support the Mtito-Andei SubCounty Hospital. Strategically located between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, this community hospital is a vital care centre in a remote area. In 2023, we donated a full suite of state-of-the-art medical equipment and supplies to the hospital, including a portable X-ray machine, portable ultrasound, resuscitaire infant warmer, automated haematology analyser, automated chemistry analyser, electric microscope, i-Chroma analyser, baby incubators (x5), dental chair, oxygen concentrators (x3), multi-parameter patient monitors (x2), infusion drip stands (x10), stretchers (x5), medicine trolleys (x3), dressing trolleys (x5), beds and mattresses (x20), industrial laundry washer (x2), industrial dryer (x2), 200-litre freezers (x4), no-frost refrigerators (x4), and generator. In 2024, the hospital was moved to a new and improved location. To support the upgrade, we donated another comprehensive suite of equipment and supplies, including: • Anaesthesia machine with printer, with double-stage regulators for oxygen and nitrous oxide • Complete CR system X-ray machine, with bucky table, chest bucky, and lead gowns (x2) • Newborn resuscitaire machine • CPAP machine • Foetal/maternal monitor (cardiotocograph machine) • Electrocardiogram machine • Defibrillator • Phototherapy unit • Operating table and theatre lamp • Surgical diathermy machine • Probe cleaner • Oxygen gas cylinder (x5) • Patient monitors (x5) • Suction machine (x4) • Surgeon stool (x2)
• Examination chaise (x10) • Kick-about bucket • Instrument trolleys (x6) • Air conditioner system and space heaters (x10) • Autoclave • Emergency crash resuscitation trolley • Flow meter (oxygen) • Food trolley (x2) • Beds with mattresses (x30) • Nebulizing machine (x4) • Foetal Doppler (x3) • Sterilisation drums (x14) • Desktop computers (x5) and printers (x3) • Bedsheets, blankets, pillows, and mosquito nets (x40) • Office tables (x20) and chairs (x30) • Visitor chairs (x30) and 20-seat waiting benches (x4) • Conference tables (x2)
This equipment will furthe enable the hospital to provide comprehensive care for all patients, attending to all manner of medical procedures and emergencies. These donations are already being put to good use, saving lives of all ages and enhancing medical care in the Tsavo area.
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f o od dist r i bu t ion pro gr a m Our successful School Lunch Program is now in its fourth year. Conversations with Tsavo-area communities revealed that many families struggled to adequately feed their children, with many children being forced to skip meals, which impacted their studies. Our school lunch program, which serves learning institutions in underserved areas, directly addresses these challenges. We provide a balanced, nutritious porridge that serves as a complete meal for students to enjoy at school. The Chantecaille Conservation Foundation and Helen Danson sponsor the School Lunch Program. In 2024, we distributed food supplies to 68 schools in the greater Tsavo Conservation Area, including those in KARI, Nasaru, Ithumba, Galana, and Mtito Andei. The total food donation included 13,365 kilograms of maize, 12,555 kilograms of beans, 13,500 kilograms of rice, and 1,278 litres of cooking oil. Across all the schools, over 15,000 students received daily school lunches in 2024. We have received very positive feedback about the program, with teachers reporting that the promise of a hearty, healthy meal has boosted student morale and increased attendance.
ch y u lu wat e r catch m e nt proj e ct Water is a persistent challenge for rural communities in arid areas. While some schools collect water on a small scale, young students often have to carry water from home or pay for drinking water. To create sustainable, subsidised water sources, we launched the Chyulu Water Catchment Project in 2023. Between 2023 and 2024, we installed 15 water catchment tanks at schools across the Chyulu ecosystem. These tanks capture and store rainwater, which is then turned into potable drinking water. Each has a 100,000-litre holding capacity, ensuring a reliable water supply throughout the year.
scho ol t r i ps Class trips have long been a cornerstone of our community engagement. In many rural communities across Kenya, children have little to no first-hand experience with wildlife. Some only associate elephants and other animals with frightening encounters or crop destruction. By introducing young students to Kenya’s wildlife from the safety of a school bus, we provide an engaging and accessible way for them to connect with their country’s natural heritage. These fully subsidised trips offer students the chance to observe wildlife in their natural habitats while learning about the roles they play in the ecosystem. Each trip is guided by our Community Outreach Officer, a charismatic leader with a gift for inspiring the next generation of conservationists. The impact of these excursions extends beyond the classroom. Many students have gone on to establish ‘environmental corners’ at school, where they collect and nurture tree seedlings to reforest their surroundings. They recognise that wildlife, particularly those living outside protected areas, depend on trees for food and shelter — and this is their way of giving back. In 2024, we organised and sponsored 87 field trips into national parks and protected areas, introducing 2,578 students and 172 teachers to Kenya’s rich natural heritage.
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st u de nt schol a r sh i ps To support the continued education of rural Kenyans, we proudly fund a scholarship programme for gifted students in the greater Tsavo Conservation Area. Education in Kenya is costly, and many families struggle to afford schooling for their children. In 2024, we supported the education of 17 secondary school students, five of whom completed their studies, while 12 will continue their Year Three studies in January. We also provided full scholarships for eight university students from the Tsavo Conservation Area, four of whom graduated in 2024. Additionally, we funded partial bursaries for 119 students from the Mwaluganje area.
c om m u n i t y t r e e d onat ions We conduct community tree plantings throughout the year, focusing on schools, government facilities, and other strategic areas in need of reforestation. Saplings, nurtured in our tree nurseries, are donated to the community at no cost. In 2024, we donated 30,189 seedlings to 18 locations across the Tsavo ecosystem and its surrounding communities. In the years ahead, these seedlings will grow into tall, sturdy trees, providing much-needed shade and helping to sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
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scho ol d onat ions We also work closely with local communities to improve school infrastructure. Over the years, we have donated more than 950 desks to schools around the Tsavo Conservation Area, along with resources that spark intellectual curiosity and physical activity. In 2024 alone, we donated 243 desks to Tsavo-area primary schools.
be e h i v e s an d be e h i v e f e nce l i n e s We launched our beehive fenceline project in 2014 as a sustainable, non-aggressive method to mitigate humanwildlife conflict. Elephants have an innate aversion to the buzzing sound of bees, so beehives placed along farm fencelines serve as a powerful deterrent. Over the years, we have installed 144 hives on community farms that were historically targeted by crop-raiding elephants. Additionally, we maintain 72 beehives in the Kibwezi Forest and Tsavo Farm, along with three catcher boxes in the Kibwezi Forest and seven in Tsavo Farm. In 2021, we established a women’s beekeeping group in the Kibwezi Forest, further linking local communities to conservation efforts while creating valuable employment opportunities. Women from the local community are employed to manage clusters of hives in the Kibwezi Forest. Each participant has completed a five-day training course and is outfitted with professional beekeeping gear.
c om m u n i t y pe ta l proj e ct In 2022, we revived the bougainvillea fields at Tsavo Farm as part of a new community support project. Employing women from the local community, we are organically farming and harvesting bougainvillea. The petals are used to produce botanical confetti, a sustainable alternative to traditional confetti that is free from pesticides, chemicals, and fertilisers. Proceeds from the exported bougainvillea petals support our conservation projects. The Petal Project is staffed by women pickers and sorters, providing valuable employment opportunities to traditionally marginalised members of the local Tsavo community. We completed our first petal harvest in 2023, followed by another bountiful harvest this year. Additionally, we successfully completed our first export of petals, with exports set to increase in the coming year. For enquiries: botanicals@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
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Our Community Petal Project produces botanical
confetti, a sustainable alternative to traditional confetti.
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eco lodges Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Eco Lodges add a unique dimension to our conservation projects, promoting sustainable tourism while also directly supporting the ecosystems in which they sit. We operate through a not-for-profit model, with proceeds from our Eco Lodges supporting vital conservation projects within Tsavo. Guests have special access to SWT’s three Reintegration Units, where they can experience firsthand our successful elephant rehabilitation program.
I T H U M BA H I L L i t h u m b a , n o rt h e r n a r e a , t s av o e a s t n at i o n a l pa r k
Ithumba Hill Camp is a luxurious tented camp built into the hill that earned it its name. Designed with the discerning traveller in mind, this camp offers panoramic views of Tsavo’s rugged wilderness.
In January 2024, we were honoured to be included in The New York Times “52 Places to Go” list. This recognition was an incredible privilege — made even more special by the fact that we were the only destination featured from the African continent. Lodge enquiries and reservations: info@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
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I T H U M BA P R I VAT E i t h u m b a , n o rt h e r n a r e a , t s av o e a s t n at i o n a l pa r k
Ithumba Private is a special annex to Ithumba Hill Camp. Built among the rocks of Ithumba Hill and shaded by giant baobabs, this hideaway offers an intimate oasis within the vast wilderness of Tsavo.
I T H U M BA C A M P i t h u m b a , t s av o e a s t n at i o n a l pa r k
Ithumba Camp is a stylishly rustic hideaway set at the base of Ithumba Hill. It is designed for the intrepid traveller who relishes big skies, star-studded nights, and an array of fascinating species at your doorstep.
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GA L D E S SA C A M P g a l a n a r i v e r , t s av o e a s t n at i o n a l pa r k
Galdessa Camp is an enchanting camp set in the heart of the Galana River. Wildlife abounds in this section of the Tsavo, from elephants meandering along the shore to hippos wallowing in the mud below.
GA L D E S SA L I T T L E g a l a n a r i v e r , t s av o e a s t n at i o n a l pa r k
Galdessa Little is an intimate annex perched on the banks of the Galana River. Fringed with doum palms and overlooking the Yatta Plateau, the camp promises unparalleled wildlife sightings.
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UMANI SPRINGS k i b w e z i f o r e s t ; c h y u l u n at i o n a l pa r k , t s av o c o n s e rvat i o n a r e a
Umani Springs is an elegant African lodge tucked within the ancient Kibwezi Forest. It offers an oasis of tranquillity and comfort, surrounded by a spectacular range of birds, butterflies, and other wild creatures.
R H I N O VA L L E Y t s av o w e s t n at i o n a l pa r k
Creating our newest retreat has been a labour of love spanning close to three years. We will be ready to invite you to experience this stunning property beginning in 2026.
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sp e c i a l than k s Local Kenya Partners Agricultural Development Corporation Big Life Foundation Galana Conservancy Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Kenya Forest Service Kenya Wildlife Service Lamu Conservation Trust Mara Conservancy Mara Elephant Project Mount Kenya Trust Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Wildlife Works Trusts and Foundations Azura AG - Trustee of Rhino Trust Aaron and Patricia Blumberg Foundation Acton Family Giving Andersen-Formolo Family Foundation Andrews Family Foundation Broder Foundation BRT Charitable Foundation Bundy Family Foundation Chantecaille Conservation Foundation Christopher Bogart and Elizabeth O’Connell Foundation Cobber Charitable Trust David and Claudia Harding Foundation Elbaz Family Foundation Endeavor Foundation Forszt Brothers Charitable Foundation Foster Family Foundation Goulder Family Foundation Grodman Family Foundation Grousbeck Family Foundation Handshake Ranch Foundation Harry L. Willett Foundation Head and Heart Foundation, C/O Carmel Ann Ferrara- Bessemer Trust Ian Mactaggart Trust LAP Foundation Inc./Paul Adelman, Director. Lobster Cove Foundation/Anne Meyer Marjorie and John Buyers Foundation, Inc. Marta Heflin Foundation MIH Trust Millinix Family Foundation Monteverde Charitable Trust MRB Foundation Patricia Bragg Foundation Patricia Bresky Family Foundation Patrick and Priscilla MeLampy-Lawrence Public Welfare Foundation Raindance Charitable Trust Rajam Family Foundation
Red Butterfly Foundation Rick Pearson and the Pearson Family Foundation Rockwell Foundation C/O PNC Schuman Family Foundation Scott (Eredine) Charitable Trust Simeon and Jean Locke Charitable Foundation Swenson Family Foundation The Argus Fund The Bruce and Carolyn Costin Martin Charitable Foundation The Burkehaven Family Foundation The Danson Foundation The Fredman Family Foundation The Friese Foundation The Hayes Foundation The Merlin Foundation The Mey Share Foundation The Shattock Family Foundation The Stephen and Carole Schwartz Foundation, Inc The William E Wockner Foundation Toby and Regina Wyles Charitable Trust TPC Foundation William Kessler Family Charitable Fund Corporations Bupa UK Chantecaille Beaute Inc. Elizabeth Scarlett Enterprise DB Ethenea Independent Investors S.A. EUGY / Dodoland GoMacro Planet Oat Ikaika Sports ITH Pharma Johnson International Katten Muchin Rosenman UK L.A. Burdick Chocolates, LLC Louise Mulgrew Metage Capital Spitalfields Strulch Tea Lab The True Traveller Williamson Tea NGOs Aktionsgemeinschaft Artenschutz (AGA) Eden Wildlife Trust Foreningen Forsvara Elefanterna Rettet die Elephanten
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Sauvez les elephants d’afrique Serengeti Foundation Terre et Faune Verein Der Elefantenfreunde Vrienden van de Olifant Individuals and Groups Adam and Karen Bloom Alicia Goetz Allison/Shipley Fund Ann Y. Riddel Anne Welch Barbara Emery Barbara Ewing and Kathy Neilson Bennet and Paula Alsher Beth Onosko Bruce G. Blumberg Cackie Trippe McCarty Candace Klein-Loetterle Candis J. Stern Carol DeProsse Catherine Grigoriou Clarence E. Heller Fund Craig and Cynthia Rosen Cynthia Hubbard Danielle Easter Darylan Stratten Dave’s Fund for Environmental and Social Change Dawn Yamada - Piecat Fund Denis Mann Denzyl Feigelson Diana Fitzgerald Diane Chesnut Diane D’Arcy Donald R. Hoak Doreen Cooke Dr. R. Matilde Mesavage Drs. Judith and Matthew Ochs Ed and Georgi Harris Edith and Jeff Clark Elaine Ewen Elizabeth and Lawrence D’angelo Elizabeth Evarts and Addy Bunie Elizabeth Steele Em and Me Care Fund Eric and Liliana Poppen Eric Margolis Eric Morgridge Erika Rosenthal Evelyn Barrack, PhD Farah Massart and Marco Croon Federico Veronesi Gary Hodges Gerald Meyer
Greg and Fiona Hyslop Greta Smith Guy Hilton Hannah Markham Heidi Blackie Hugh Robinson Ida Dunbar James L. and Karyn Mullen Jane and Charles McAllister Jennifer and Jason Keffeler Jerry and Iris Silver Jim and Tish Hilbert Jim, Penny and Izzi Lacy Jo Ann Hoffman Jo Goldman John and Kathleen Burke John and Susan Greene Jon and Carol Nickerson Jon and Lynda Steel Jonathan Connolly Josephine Hawthorne Judie Graham-Bell Judith Anne Kaplan Fund Julia Allen, PhD, DVM Karim Lalani Kathleen Rozanske Kathryn Ruemmler KDG Keri Gillepsie Kids’ Tusk Force UK Kimberly and Tylor Armstrong Koeberle Family Trust Kristen Aiken Kristin Davis Kristin Orr Lana G. Merkel Laura De Reitzes Laura Gazzoli Lehr Family Charitable Fund Linda and Michael Lyon Linda Rodgers Lisa and Valar Mihan Loi and Adele Nguyen Lori Price Lorie Tarver Lynn Pearcy Mallory Hathaway Marc and Suzanne Daniel Margaret Burchell and Michael Brownrigg Mark and Jacqui Atkinson Mia Alexandra Lee Michele Cook N S Ramjee NISSE Fund Parris P McBride-Martin
Patricia Drerup Cotter Paul Vosper and Roberta Browne Pedalling for Pete Peter and Shelly Zwick Ramona Reichert and Ivo Schemionek Rima Shah Robert Musser and Barbara Francis Robert Stojnic and Claudia Esteves Robin Anderson, DVM Robyn Cabarro Sharma Roy and Gretchen Jackson Russell Williams Sabrina and Rich Dimichele Sandra Rush Elkins Scott and Linda Greene Shannon Miller Shirley Pease Shobhana Natu Sofie Kirk Kristiansen Stephen Charles, Charles Hazlehurst Moura Family Foundation Stephen E. Smith and Barbara Lyle Smith Susie and Roy Dorrance Sven and Kristin Lindblad, The Wanderlust Fund Terry and Judy Bangs The Bangs Family Charitable Fund The Creel Family The Denise Lahey Wildlife Conservation Fund The Great Elephant Migration The NC Giving Fund Thomas and Elizabeth Eisele Thomas Edwards Jr Tierra Cielo Wildlife and Environment Fund C/O Genevieve Poirier-Richards and Mark Richards Tim and Nancy Corwin Tom and Cathy Staver Tyler and Hayley Hubbard Wayne Levy Legacies Edward A. Wakin Living Trust Estate of Ardeth D. Baxter Estate of Barry Turner Estate of Betty Rowland Estate of Bob Barker Estate of Brian Hoyt Estate of Carmen Cureton Estate of Charles Eichler Estate of Dawn Mary Palin Estate of Denise Daphne Sheldon Estate of Diana Giddings
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Estate of Diane M. De Guzman Estate of Dorothy Joyce Brookes Estate of Evelyn Joyce Davidson Estate of Gene Arthur Hungar Estate of Grace Collier Estate of Ivor John Chenagle Estate of Jack and Carole Strauss Estate of James Wiley Estate of Janet Louise Long Estate of Janis Lash Estate of Kimberly J. Manson Estate of Leonie Roxana Base Estate of Leslie Sherman Estate of Lisa Beth Cooper Estate of Margaret Sutton Estate of Marion Lindsay May Estate of Marlene Ledonne Estate of Mary Frances Corneliussen Estate of Niloufer and Rehana Moosa Estate of Olivia Nash Estate of Patricia Dorothy Treasure Estate of Patricia Lilian Homer Estate of Peter and Sondra Ward Estate of Shirley Ann Weymouth Estate of Susan Murray Estate of Sylvia Meyern-Hohenberg Estate of Thelma Rice Estate of Theresa Bannister Estate of Virginia Redman Estate of Wendy Alexandra Esposito Estate of William H. Rough Estate of Susan Leach Estate of Joseph and Velda Boenitz
Photographs Copyright © Sheldrick Wildlife Trust All rights reserved. Photography with special thanks to: Mia Collis, Freya Dowson, Teagan Cunniffe, Robert Carr-Hartley, Roan Carr-Hartley, Taru Carr-Hartley, Hamish Rendall, Neville Sheldrick, and Antony Ng'ethe.
Online donations can be made directly through our website
WWW.SHELDRICKWILDLIFETRUST.ORG
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a charity registered in Kenya. For donations to the Trust, please make cheques out to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. SWT KENYA Sheldrick Wildlife Trust P.O. Box 15555 Mbagathi, 00503 Nairobi Email: info@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org Telephone : +254 (0) 202 301 396 +254 (0) 111 044 200
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (No: 1103836). UK taxpayers can make gifted-aided donations to the charity. SWT UK Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK 1 Oak Place, Rosier Business Park Coneyhurst Road, Billingshurst RH14 9DE Email: infouk@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org Telephone: +44 (0) 1372 378 321
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt 501c public charity to which contributions, gifts and bequests are deductible for U.S. income, gift, and estate taxes as allowed by law. Checks can be made out to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA. Tax ID: 30-0224549 SWT USA Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA 25283 Cabot Road, Suite 101 Laguna Hills CA, 92653 Email: infous@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org Telephone: +1 (949) 305-3785
sheldrick wildlife trust P.O. Box 15555 Mbagathi, Nairobi, 00503 Kenya Tel: +254 (0) 111 044 200, +254 (0) 20 230 1396 info@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org www . sheldrickwildlifetrust . org