Day 4 Nairobi – visit to the baby elephants

At the weekend we were based in Nairobi. On Saturday, we took a taxi out to the suburbs to see a couple of wildlife sanctuaries. First stop was the Sheldrake Elephant Orphanage. Many of the baby elephants had been found wandering on their own in one of the National Parks, or had fallen down a well, mother nowhere to be seen, presumed killed. They are brought here, where they are reared till about 2-3 years old. Towards the end of their stay they are taken back to Tsavo National Park in the south and encouraged to be adopted by a wild herd. This often takes a few visits. Elephants are very family oriented and herds commonly adopt young motherless elephants in much the same way as foster or adoptive families work in the human world.

The keepers led out a line of their 10 younger elephants rather like a football team onto the pitch!

Each baby was fed a giant bottle of milk. They need this several times a day – in fact the younger elephants require 36 pints a day – the older ones, 48 pints a day! They don’t tolerate cow’s milk – it’s too fatty – but SMA Gold is perfect – yep that’s right – human baby formula - and the most expensive type too! Funnily enough, SMA aren’t too keen for their fine product to be associated with feeding elephants, so unfortunately no sponsorship from them!
Following the milk, a long drink of refreshing water is required – well, it is a hot day and the sun’s right overhead!

After the refreshment, they like nothing better than to be sloshed with muddy water, to roll around on the ground and then to be shovelled with red dust!

One or two of them enjoy a brief game of footy too! If you are fond of elephants and want to adopt one it costs about £40pa. If you visit Kenya you can make an appointment to visit your elephant and put him to bed. This entails helping with his bedtime milk, leading your elephant into his little stall, encouraging him to lie down on the straw and then covering him with a blanket – aaaaah!

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/