Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Orphans’ Project
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The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) Elephant Orphanage, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is one of the most well-known and respected elephant rehabilitation centers in the world. It was founded in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her late husband, David Sheldrick, a naturalist and warden of Kenya's Tsavo National Park.
The primary focus of the elephant orphanage is to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned elephants, with the ultimate goal of reintroducing them into the wild when they are ready. Many of the orphaned elephants at the DSWT have lost their mothers to poaching or natural causes. The center provides them with a second chance at life by offering specialized care, nutrition, and medical attention.
Visitors to the orphanage can witness the daily feeding and mud-bathing sessions, during which the baby elephants play and interact with each other. The center also cares for orphaned rhinos. The keepers at the orphanage provide round-the-clock care, serving as surrogate mothers for the elephants and helping them develop the necessary social and survival skills.
The DSWT is actively involved in anti-poaching efforts and wildlife conservation. They also run various community outreach programs to raise awareness about the importance of protecting elephants and their habitats.
Support for the orphanage comes from public donations and fostering programs. Individuals can foster an orphaned elephant, contributing to its care and rehabilitation until it is ready to be released back into the wild.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Elephant Orphanage has played a crucial role in elephant conservation and has become a symbol of hope for the future of these magnificent creatures in the face of the ongoing threats they face in the wild.
https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/
Visiting the NAIROBI NURSERY
Daily visitors accepted from 11:00am to 12:00noon to watch the mud bath and milk feeding of the elephants. Prior booking required. For more information, visit
https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/nursery-visit
FEES
https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/nursery-visit#entry-fees
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