Nasalot's Story

A female calf born approximately January 2000; estimated age on arrival 2 - 3 months. "Nasalot" is a poaching orphan, her mother having been poached for her ivory near Nasalot in the Turkana region. There are only very few surviving elephants left in the harsh lava deserts of Turkanaland, and these survivors have had to turn nocturnal due to poaching pressure in an area known for lawlessness, feeding only during the hours of darkness, and in hiding in thorn thickets by day. We had great difficulty reversing Nasalot's sleeping pattern, for she wanted to sleep during the hours of daylight, and was extremely restless all night, pacing around the stable, and refusing to settle, which left her Keepers' exhausted by the morning! This was exacerbated by deep grieving for her lost family, whom she remembered clearly at her age, so psychological depression and lack of sleep took a heavy toll of her health in the beginning.She did well in the Nursery and was moved to the Ithumba Unit in Tsavo East in 2004. She is a beautiful elephant who roams with Yatta's ex-orphan herd, and in 2017 gave birth to her first born wild calf, a little bull called Nusu.

Nasalot's Story

A female calf born approximately January 2000; estimated age on arrival 2 - 3 months. "Nasalot" is a poaching orphan, her mother having been poached for her ivory near Nasalot in the Turkana region. There are only very few surviving elephants left in the harsh lava deserts of Turkanaland, and these survivors have had to turn nocturnal due to poaching pressure in an area known for lawlessness, feeding only during the hours of darkness, and in hiding in thorn thickets by day.

We had great difficulty reversing Nasalot's sleeping pattern, for she wanted to sleep during the hours of daylight, and was extremely restless all night, pacing around the stable, and refusing to settle, which left her Keepers' exhausted by the morning! This was exacerbated by deep grieving for her lost family, whom she remembered clearly at her age, so psychological depression and lack of sleep took a heavy toll of her health in the beginning.She did well in the Nursery and was moved to the Ithumba Unit in Tsavo East in 2004. She is a beautiful elephant who roams with Yatta's ex-orphan herd, and in 2017 gave birth to her first born wild calf, a little bull called Nusu.

Adopt Nasalot for yourself or as a gift.

Important Note: Thank you for considering an adoption. Each orphan needs more than one foster parent: your adoption donation will be processed by the SWT UK and Kenya to help all the orphans in our care.

Adopt Nasalot for yourself or as a gift.

Important Note: Thank you for considering an adoption. Each orphan needs more than one foster parent: your adoption donation will be processed by the SWT UK and Kenya to help all the orphans in our care.

Current Age

24 years old

Gender

Female

Rescued date

3 April 2000

Rescue Location

South Turkana, Nasalot National Reserve

Date of Birth (approximate)

1 January 2000

Reason Orphaned

Poaching

Age at Rescue

3 months old (approx)

Current Location

Living Wild

Nasalot's featured photos

Our digital adoption programme includes the following:

Personalised adoption certificate.

Monthly email update on your orphan and the project.

Monthly watercolour by Angela Sheldrick.

Access to special content; latest Keepers' Diaries, videos and photos

Give Nasalot the gift of life by adopting today.

Nasalot's Calves

Meet Nasalot's wild born offspring.

Nusu

Male

Nasalot's first baby arrived on 14th October 2017, a half-pint sized bull we named 'Nusu', the Swahili word for 'half'. Nusu is a little water baby who loves to jump into any and every water trough he can find to go snorkeling. Often seen diving head first into the deep end without a care in the world, he has occasionally needed a little helping trunk to get out! He'll certainly be keeping his many nannies on their toes as he grows. Read more

Noah

Male

After an absence of more than eight months, Nasalot strode up to Ithumba on 4th November 2021 with an unmistakable air of celebration. Trailing in her wake, just like a tiny shadow, was a newborn bull. We have named her latest addition Noah. Nasalot’s firstborn, Nusu, is a notorious rascal, but he is already proving to be a model big brother. Muscling his way between over-eager nannies, he protectively trails little Noah’s every step. Only time will tell if Noah is another rascal, but Nasalot’s hard-earned motherhood expertise will undoubtable come in handy as she raises her growing family. Read more

Latest updates featuring Nasalot

Olare Gives Birth to Her First Baby, Ola

Read more

Our Second Ithumba Great-Grandbaby, Mala

Read more

Bondeni, Kindani, and Kinyei Graduate

Read more

Nasalot's latest photos

Nasalot and family

Nasalot and Noah in the morning sun

Nabulu, Karisa, Noah and Nasalot

Noah and Nasalot

Nasalot and her kids

Nusu, Nasalot and Noah

Nasalot with Noah and Nusu

Nasalot and Noah