1/3/07 1:59:37 PM

The evening of 6th December, 2006, and a call from our Chyulu 
De-Snaring Team made our hearts sink, alerting us to the fact that another young 
orphaned elephant had been spotted by members of the Community abutting 
the forest wandering around entirely alone. It is a great tribute to 
the Community outreach work of our Chyulu De-Snaring Team that members of 
this previously very un-ele-friendly community took the trouble to walk 
a long distance to their Camp in the Chyulu Hills to report the 
presence of this orphan, rather than either just allowing it to die, or 
killing it, which is what would undoubtedly have previously done.

The Chyulu De-Snaring Team set out immediately accompanied by the 
tribesman who had brought the report, and within a short time, they spotted 
the young elephant very close to a village called “Kenze￿. The 
elephant was in a very emaciated and advanced state of starvation, at 2 
years old still milk dependent, and although extremely fearful of humans, 
had obviously come close to the village for protection against 
predators. Although enfeebled, he still had sufficient strength to put up a 
spirited struggle during his capture, but with the assistance of the 
villagers, who cooperated fully, he was successfully overpowered and loaded 
onto the back of the De-Snaring Pickup Truck. It being too late to 
arrange an air rescue that day, he had to endure the 3 hour journey 
strapped in the back of the Pickup to our Voi Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, 
where he was put in one of the new recently built small stables. These 
currently house our orphaned zebra foal “Serena￿ and the baby 
lesser Kudu named “Rukinga￿, both of whom are being hand-reared by our 
Voi Elephant Keepers.

The two year old, already named “Kenze￿, (at the request of the 
community), as usual had no liking for the human species, but the Keepers 
managed to cover him with a blanket, and get him to take milk and 
rehydration fluids overnight by pinning him in a corner. At first light the 
next morning the rescue plane set off from Nairobi heading for the Voi 
Park airfield, where the calf was waiting to be loaded loaded onto the 
plane and flown to Nairobi.

He arrived at the Nairobi Nursery at 11 a.m. on the morning of the 7th 
December, and one look at him made our hearts sink even further, for 
once again here was a candidate who was bound to sink into muscular 
dystrophy due to starvation exacerbated by both the trauma of capture, and 
two long journeys to safety, added to which he was literally plastered 
in ticks – huge great yellow elephant ticks on almost every square 
inch of his ears and body, in between colonies of small black ones. He 
also had a nasty suppurating wound on his belly, but it was important to 
get him to his feet quickly so after the first of what would have to be 
a 5 day prophylactic course of injectible antibiotic, he was lifted to 
his feet in the Taming Stockade. Here was another Sidai, Challa or 
Rapsu, who would need intensive care the moment he could be handled in a 
collapsed state, and from past experience, this we knew was inevitable, 
so we had the Vet standing by, and all the drips and medication in 
place. Only then, could we deal with the parasites, clean the wound on his 
belly and do our best to revive him through the insertion of saline and 
dextrose drip-fed into one of the large veins behind an ear.

Right now, however, there was nothing we could do for he was extremely 
aggressive, and at two years old, armed with short tusks, even though 
weak, was still able to inflict serious injury should he succeed in 
pinning a Keeper against the bars of his Stockade. Clearly, this young 
newcomer, at this age, was yet another challenge, set to be a difficult 
customer, and the prognosis about being able to save his life was not 
encouraging.

Meanwhile, we all awaited the inevitable collapse, which happened at 5 
p.m.. Immediately, the life saving drip was able to be inserted into an 
ear, the wound on his penis and belly inspected and cleaned and the 
ticks removed by an application of T-Tree and Front Line Spray. We suspect 
that the injury to the tip of his penis and belly had been inflicted by 
a small carnivore such as a mongoose or dog, when he was lying down, 
for had it been a hyaena, it would have been far more serious. As it was, 
it was not deep.

We were actually surprised to find him still with us in the morning, 
bottle after bottle of dextrose and Hartmans solution having flowed into 
his body throughout the night as he was attended by two skilled 
Keepers. He remained comatose and on the drip for the first half of the next 
morning, hovering precariously between life and death. However, he is 
obviously a survivor, who, having overcome all odds, was lifted to his 
feet at noon on the 8th, and wobbled with help into a far corner to lean 
against the bars of his Stockade. Still bent on attacking whoever 
approached him, he continued to resist milk for a further 48 hours, but 
devoured the fresh greens that were cut for him, avidly. It was, however, 
only milk that would save his life, so in the meantime Daphne prepared 
with SMA milk little balls of cooked oatmeal and desiccated coconut, 
which were stuffed into his mouth and swallowed whilst he was down.

Eventually, he decided to try milk from a bottle held by a Keeper 
protected by the Gate to his Stockade, and having tasted it, began to long 
for each feed, gulping it down rapidly, before trying to flatten the 
Keeper. Gradually, his milk ration, reinforced with oatmeal and coconut 
gruel was increased and whenever he lay down to sleep, without the 
strength to remain standing during the nights, the Keepers were able to clean 
his wounds and cover him with a blanket as protection against the night 
chill. After a full week, once he responded to the word “No￿ and 
refrained from pushing home any onslaught, he was allowed out one 
afternoon to join the other Nursery inmates, one full week after arrival. 
Immediately he gravitated to Lenana, the elephant next door to him during 
the nights, and he and Lenana, who is still something of a loner, still 
grief-stricken for her lost elephant loved ones, have formed a strong 
bond of friendship, giving each other comfort and companionship, feeding 
close together, but keeping slightly apart from all the others.

It is, indeed, a miracle that Kenze is alive to become the twelfth baby 
in our Nairobi Nursery today. Great credit goes to the Keepers who 
diligently struggled so hard for his life and who succeeded in narrowly 
cheating the Angel of death. Though still weak, and pathetically 
emaciated, he is recovering rapidly, eager to fill his starved belly with milk, 
and it is for that reason that today we have joy in being able to add 
his story to the website, our Christmas miracle baby.


To view photographs from Kenze's rescue please click on this link:
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=166


To foster Kenze please click on this link:
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fosteringnew.asp?G=2&LP=12222006632-pic7a.jpg&N=166&FN=KENZE




Most Sincerely,

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E.
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

2/5/07 11:29:43 AM

During the morning of 25th January 2006, we were alerted by the Kenya 
Wildlife Service that a very young orphaned elephant was being held at a 
KWS station near the Trans Mara town of Kilgoris in Southern Kenya. The 
rescue was immediately scrambled and the rescue crew and plane flew to 
Kitchwa Tembo airstrip, the closest strip in the Maasai Mara, to await 
the arrival of the calf, who was in the process of being driven the 45 
km + drive to this point.

On the morning of the 25th a Maasai elder in the Kimaserian area was 
surprised by a most unusual visitor when a tiny baby elephant was found 
in his Boma amongst his cattle and sheep. This baby, still pink behind 
the ears, had been swept down the Mogor river as his mother and herd had 
attempted to cross the fast flowing river earlier that morning. It 
became evident he had been swept about 800 meters by the swift current 
before ending up on the shoreline of the opposite bank. Dazed and confused 
he had followed the sounds of the live stock emanating from a Maasai 
Boma not far from where he had been washed up. It is considered in Maasai 
custom to be extremely lucky if you receive an animal in your livestock 
boma in the morning, normally a small rabbit or something alittle more 
predictable, but Stephen Parmois Leshao was amazed on this day to find 
a tiny baby elephant in his boma, washed pink by the river, abandoned 
and confused looking for the company of his domestic livestock. He 
immediately tried to rescue the baby, as his elephant herd was no where to 
be seen, but the moment he moved closer to the calf it fled in the 
opposite direction. Stephen enlisted the help of his children and his dogs 
in order to round up the baby elephant and after much effort they 
eventually managed to capture the calf. They then tied him to a nearby tree 
while they deliberated as to what to do next. Stephen and a friend then 
decided to walk the calf to the closest KWS station to seek advice and 
help from the wildlife authorities. By this time the calf had settled 
down having fed the calf some cows milk and then a remarkable scene 
unfolded as Stephen and his friend set off on the 15 kilometer journey to 
the KWS station, across the plains of the Trans - Mara with this baby 
elephant following them. It is very encouraging that this man cared 
sufficiently to save this calf, and moreover the following day diligently 
laid it on a bed of hay, assisted by Anne Kent Taylor's desnaring team, 
in the back of the KWS Landrover Pickup which had been made available in 
order to transport the calf the following day 40 kms to the closest 
serviceable Airfield, where the rescue plane was waiting.
At the airfield, a curious crowd of onlookers had gathered, and as the 
calf was being loaded into the plane, Stephen along with his friend who 
had helped him explained that they lived harmoniously with the 
elephants that utilized their area and who posed no threat to their livestock. 
He understood that they generated tourist revenue for his community and 
were a priceless national heritage that benefited the Tourist Industry 
of Kenya. The KWS Representative present then explained that the 
organization’s community out-reach initiatives were now bearing fruit.

Little Kilgoris, as we have named him, arrived in Nairobi at 2.30 p.m., 
already showing visible signs of the anticipated stomach upset 
following his intake of cows’ milk that had been given to him well meaningly 
while in Stephen’s care, to which elephant babies are intolerant. 
However, on arrival he hungrily downed 3 bottles of SMA and some 
rehydration fluid and having been anointed with sunblock to protect his petal 
soft ears, and had his sore eyes washed out with boracic solution, all he 
now needed was a good rest. Meanwhile, the other four resident tiny 
babies, namely Lesanju, Lempaute, Galdessa and Shimba were brought in to 
meet the newcomer, so that he would understand that he was not alone but 
with their minds only on their anticipated ration of milk, they arrived 
in a rush and hardly seemed to even notice the presence of a newcomer! 
However, their presence would surely have been reassuring to this very 
exhausted baby, who was gently laid on a mattress in the shade for what 
he needed most at this point in time - sleep.

Kilgoris now brings the number of orphans presently in the nursery up 
to 13. While we anticipate all the struggles common with raising these 
infant elephant calves we are optimistic of his chances of survival, and 
he will be another friend for the Lempaute, Lesanju, Shimba, and 
Galdessa.

To view more pictures from the rescue please click on this link: 
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=167

To foster Kilgoris please click on this link:  
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fosteringnew.asp?G=&LP=1312007351-pic7a.jpg&N=167&FN=Kilgoris



Most Sincerely,

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E.
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

3/14/2007 4:28:13 PM

The 6th February 2007 began as an ordinary day, but ended up anything 
but ordinary due to the discovery of blind yearling baby rhino in the 
Park forest about 3 kms. from our Headquarters.   The elephant Keepers, 
who were out in the forest as usual with their charges, heard the rhino 
crying, and went to investigate.   He was running around aimlessly, 
there being no sign of his mother.   The KWS Rhino Unit was summonsed, and 
together they and our Keepers monitored the little rhino until dusk 
from a good distance so as not to disturb him or the possibility of his 
mother returning, and when there was still no sign of the mother, 
something had to be done to spare him from being taken by predators during the 
night.   By calling him with the rhino “come￿ sound (a soft 
exhalation of breath), he followed the Elephant Keepers and KWS Rangers for 
the 3 kms until near the Trust buildings, when he spooked at the strange 
sounds, blindly charging all and sundry and almost downing Daphne in 
the process who had to resort to diving into a nearby bush!   By now it 
was quite obvious that he was completely blind in both eyes, for both 
his eyes were opaque.   He was then physically overpowered, which took 
all the strength of about l0 men and although just a year old, he could 
certainly pack a punch and was immensely powerful.   With legs tied he 
was then carried on the elephant Rescue Tarpaulin to a vacant stable, 
where he was released, and proceeded to almost demolish the timbers of 
the stable.   Apart from his eyes, he was in good physical condition, so 
he could not have been without his mother for long.   (Her 
disappearance and ultimate fate still remains a mystery.)
We named the little rhino “Maxwell￿, "Max" for short, which somehow 
seemed to suit him.   For three full days, no-one could set foot in his 
stable, he was so wild and fierce, but he soon understood that milk and 
water was available at the stable door.

It being essential that he undergo a course of injectable antibiotic to 
forestall problems brought about by trauma and shock, only Robert 
Carr-Hartley was courageous enough to risk going in, and having restrained 
the sharp end of the rhino by hanging onto his head, some reinforcements 
then followed to enable Robert to administer the antibiotic!   For the 
next three days, the same process had to be repeated, and everyone 
heaved a sigh of relief when it was over.   By now, however, the little 
rhino had calmed down sufficiently to enable one of the braver Keepers to 
venture in with him, and since then he has been very amenable, as long 
as not suddenly startled, enjoying being fondled on the belly and head, 
as do all rhinos.   The next challenge was to move him into Magnum’s 
vacant Stockade, which abuts that of Shida and this was accomplished 
without too much difficulty.

An assessment of the cause of Max’s blindness has revealed that he is 
suffering from bilateral cataracts, so surgical intervention to remove 
the cataracts is planned for Wednesday 21st March, when Dieter Rottcher 
returns from Germany.   Dieter will oversee the anesthetic being 
extremely experienced in this field whilst the eye surgery  will be 
undertaken by one of Kenya’s top Eye Specialists, Dr. Schwendemann.   We keep 
our fingers crossed that we will be able to restore at least some 
vision to little Max, for a bull rhino has to fight for territory and rank, 
and must be able to see his opponent.

To View more photographs of Max click on this link:  
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_gallery.asp?N=169

To Foster Max click on this link: 
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fosteringnew.asp?G=5&LP=3142007825-pic7a.jpg&N=169&FN=MAXWELL




Most Sincerely,

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E.
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org