David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
By Charlie • November 6, 2006 • 6 commentsThe David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, NairobiNovember 06 2006
I’ve been to Kenya many times over the last seventeen years, but - despite it being just 16km from the hotel - I’d never visited what crew familiarly call “The Elephant Orphanage” run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust on one edge of the nearby Nairobi National Park.
Run along stringently scientific lines and with the welfare of the animals brought to the orphanage at the heart of everything the Trust does, I had a fascinating hour (which is the maximum time the elephants are exposed to the public) dodging heavy rain-showers and watching the pony-sized elephants being fed formula from huge “baby bottles” while listening to the information being given by the accompanying rangers - who treat the young elephants wonderfully and care for them almost like their own children.
And the information given is detailed and heart-rending: conservation and preservation features in equal measure to the appalling treatment given out to one of the planet’s most sensitive animals by us humans…shameful boos to the despicable hunters and poachers, and huge applause for the remarkable efforts of the Trust to halt the slaughter of elephants for their ivory, most of which ends up in - surprise, surprise - China, or in Somalia where it’s traded to buy guns (makes you proud to be a member of Homo sapiens)…
If you get the chance to go to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the modest entrance fee (so modest that if you don’t make an additional contribution you have no heart) is probably one of the best things you can spend your money on in the whole country (and hopefully one of the few things that the thoroughly corrupt government doesn’t get it’s greedy hands on)…
The elephants are brought down for feeding…
Elephants are wonderful animals, but I’m obviously unlikely to go anywhere in Nairobi and not keep an eye open for any birds too, and - to my surprise - I actually had a lifer at the ‘orphanage’: the rather handsome Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens, which, after getting very excited thinking I’d had a quick view of an unusual bird I’d never see again, I eventually found was coming to a feeder (unfortunately placed in the middle of a dense bush making photography impossible) in good numbers - also at the feeder were Chestnut Weavers (which I’ve not seen for many years). Not sure how I’ve missed this dove in the past, but if I ever want to see another one I know where to go now!
Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens
Other birds I saw at the ‘orphanage’ included both Heuglin’s and Cape Robin-chats, plenty of Red-billed Firefinches and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleus, non-breeding plumaged Pin-tailed Wydahs, Streaky Seedeaters, and various hirundines.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust:
Begun shortly after the death of the remarkable conservationist David Sheldrick in 1977, the Trust that bears his name does fantastic work protecting Africa’s dwindling rhinos and elephants, running anti-snare units, and funding anti-poaching patrols. Its HQ is easily reached by a 20 minute taxi ride form Nairobi city centre - most hotel-based cabs will know how to get there and back without any trouble. Note that the Trust is only open to visitors between 11:00 am and Noon.
The Trust depends heavily on donations and on visitors buying souvenirs etc - so please take some extra money when you go and be prepared to leave it in the Trust’s capable hands!
“Every person that buys ivory has killed an elephant and its dependent young
and has caused immeasurable sorrow and suffering to many others.”
Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick MBE, MBS
I really enjoyed your site, it is very well done. Many thanks. I shall visit again soon. Best wishes for 2009.
having a cosmic attraction to elephants, i’m in heaven with finding the sheldrick trust site. it’s a beautiful thing they are accomplishing. i so want to go and be a part of it. willingly i’ld like to sell off everything, and go. but where to start?
The David Sheldrick Wildlife trust was recommended by none other than Jack Hannah as a wonderful organization for helping elephants and rhinos. I have made a contribution and urge others to do the same.
THANK YOU for your hard work in saving our dwindling African animal population.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a charity very close to my heart. I foster threee baby elephants from the Nursery Group and donate extra whenever I can. A wonderful lady called Heather Webb hand crafted eight beautiful bead necklaces each one in the name of a baby elephant and auctioned them on ebay back in January. I was priviledged enough to win “Taveta’s” necklace, Taveta being one of the three eles I foster. It is a stunning piece of jewellery and I feel honoured to own it. Heather donates £1.00 from every piece of jewellery sold in aid of the David Sheldrick Trust. Your photographs are stunning Charlie, especially the baby nursing from the giant milk bottle what beautiful gentle creatures they are. My dream is to visit the Trust one day and see my babies, I am so pleased you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for sharing the photos, I see you are into birds, have you visited National Geograpics Africa WildCam at Petes Pond, Botswana, plenty of birds visit the waterhole and the 24 hour webcam is terrific.
Thank you
Julie
I have watched with facination, documentaries on the great work that the trust is doing in the rearing and care of orphaned baby elephants and conservation at large .That the animals that have been released back into the wild return from time to time to the sanctuary is really something that speaks volumes about the bond and trust these very sensitive wonderful creatures have for ‘home’.Keep up the great work and God bless.I personally have not been to the Sheldrik trust but it my next stop.
having been to kenya thirteen times i had the wonderfull experience to visit the orphanaga in tsavo east in 2004, as me and my husband stood there the young elis came walking back to the compound, i have to addmit me and my husband just stood and cryed . they were so happy with there keepers and when they reached us they put there trunks up to us so we could blow down them. we also got to see the bad side, the shed full of snares poison arrows/darts. we really cant understant why this need for ivory in this day and age, but the greed for money will never end. when we left we gave a donation and left with a tear in our eyes. we went to the orphanaga again last year but we never saw any apart from the warden. we left another donation.we will be returning in 2009 to kenya and hope to make the trip from mombasa up to nairobi