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The following is LAIKIPIA's
Orphan Profile.
If you would like to foster a different orphan please click
here.
Quick Facts about
LAIKIPIA
| Gender |
Male |
Date of Birth |
February 1999 |
| Location Found |
Loisaba- Laikipia |
| Age on Arrival |
1 Year old |
| Comments on Place Found |
Mother died for no known reason, although suspecte as a drought victim in Loisaba |
| Reason for being Orphaned |
Drought Related |
A male calf estimated to be about 1 year old on arrival, therefore born February 1999. Another calf from Laikipia District in the North, orphaned when approximately 1 year old when his mother died during a very dry season, either from drought, sickness or even as a result of bullet wounds. Obviously, she had had very little milk for many months, because the calf was emaciated and skeletal when rescued. He arrived in the Nairobi Nursery in a pathetic condition in the late afternoon, extremely fearful of humans, but the input of "Lolokwe" calmed him immediately and within half an hour he was taking milk from a bottle. Astonishingly, by the next morning he was part of the Nursery group, out in the bush with the other elephants and their Keepers as though he had always belonged. However, not surprisingly the sudden intake of large quantities of milk triggered problems and we wondered whether he would have the reserves to cope, but he did. He is, indeed, lucky to find himself in a much safer home and with a much more secure future within a large protected area. His best friend and sparring partner is another young bull named "Salama" and these two babies romp happily together all day long.
He is a very gentle and loving little elephant, similar to Edo in temperament, sociable with all visitors, always eager to suckle a thumb, wrapping his trunk around a neck for comfort. Laikipia is a very forgiving little soul when one considers what his relatives have had to endure in Northern Kenya where poaching has long been, and still is, a serious problem.
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