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The following is SOLANGO's
Orphan Profile.
If you would like to foster a different orphan please click
here.
Quick Facts about
SOLANGO
| Gender |
Male |
Date of Birth |
September 2001 |
| Location Found |
Seraa Group ranch near to Shaba National Reserve |
| Age on Arrival |
4 Weeks old |
| Comments on Place Found |
Fell into a deep rocky water catchment well on Seraa Group ranch |
| Reason for being Orphaned |
Drought Related |
Rescued from Seraa Group Ranch, 20 miles North East of Shaba National Reserve, having fallen into a deep rocky catchment "well" which holds water in the dry season, this tiny bull elephant came in severely sunburnt, the top of his ears burnt to a frazzle by exposure to the sun; the back of his ears still tinged with pink, the tell-tale sign of a very young elephant infant younger than 6 weeks, therefore an October 2001 baby. He is a feisty little character, who resisted being pushed towards his stable by the Keepers, bellowing protest. Finally, the Keepers were told to simply walk away, and, predictably, rather than find himself alone again, he was happy just to follow.
For a few hours after being brought in, he cried a lot, fearful of his new surroundings and the strangeness of those that were doing their best to comfort him. However, once he spotted the other orphans as they came in for the night, he immediately calmed down, and began to accept milk. Overcome with exhaustion, that night he slept "like a baby", and the next morning he was one of the gang, adored by both Nasalot and Mulika, who are always overjoyed to welcome a new member to their elephant "family". Mweya looked somewhat askance at the newcomer, as usual, and Sweet Sally's passion for sucking the Keepers' fingers over-rode all other concerns. Thoma was bent on putting him in his place, a bit "pushy" and Seraa simply ignored him, which means that she probably did know him, but was not yet ready to play - and nor was he.
Salango is a very brave and already is proving to be a forceful character, no doubt the makings of a dominant bull in the fullness of time, his genes honed through millennia by evolution in a challenging environment where only the fittest of the fit ever make it. When he feels like his milk, he wants it now and even though tiny, doesn't hesitate to shove the Keepers all over the place until he gets what he wants! His sunburnt ears have to be protected from the sun, so a Keeper is in constant attendance holding aloft a large umbrella, and his little body sheltered from the chill of the Nairobi wind by a soft blanket strapped around his middle. When he begins to play, which is always the moment to rejoice, the girl elephants in our little Nursery will have their hands full!
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