Life in what was once the most pristine area in the world is not what it was.
Growing populations, the development of cities, and needed industries and roads have taken the open spaces away from the animals of East Africa, leaving them with only legislated corridors to move from place to place.
Straying from these corridors means death. And the death of a parent is the death of the child ... especially within the elephant community.
Because of the problem of diminishing herds of this more and more endangered creature, solutions have been developing in the form of studies, new parklands set aside and the creation of places like the Sheldrick Reserve where orphaned babies are raised to be returned to the wild.
The Sheldrick Reserve was established through The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The Trust was established in memory of David Sheldrick, a famous Naturalist and founder Warden of Kenya's giant Tsavo East National Park in which he served from 1948 until 1976.
The Sheldrick Reserve is situated in Nairobi, overseen by Dr. Daphne Sheldrick, with the cooperation of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Here there is hope for an orphaned elephant fortunate enough to be found alive.
Through 28 years of trial and error the milk formula and complex husbandry necessary to rear the orphaned infant African elephants was perfected. Today, over 30 orphaned infant calves that would otherwise have perished are being cared for and prepared to return to the wild. Every one of the orphans can look forward to living free in Tsavo East National Park with their new extended orphaned family and friends amongst the wild herds if the Park that offers elephants the 8,000 square miles of pristine wilderness they need.
The Reserve, supported by donations from throughout the world, is dedicated to the rearing of orphaned infant elephants. The rearing of these infants is an expensive and long-term commitment, during their first ten years, a team of trained care givers are there to represent the lost elephant family -- feeding, training, even sleeping with the growing babies. They are there for the little elephants until they are comfortable with the wild herds and choose to become independent. The time involved will depend entirely upon the personality of each individual and also upon how well the elephant can recall its elephant family -- but all the orphans will be integrated into the wild community by the age of ten.
