Mutara's Story

The 26th July 2009 brought not only the rescue of two and a half month old Tano from Loisaba Ranch, but also a newborn, who was seen all alone at 2pm on the road between Rumuruti town in Laikipia and the ADC ranch known as Mutara. Mutara called the Kenyan Wildlife Service, and since it was by then too late to initiate a rescue (added to the fact that all our phone land lines were out of action) the ADC Ranch personally alerted the Ol Pejeta Conservancy requesting them to care for the calf for the night.

Mutara's Story

And so it was, that on the 27th July 2009, the newborn baby female calf who has been named Mutara, after the ADC station that saved her from certain death, came to us flown in this time by East African Air Charters, in a small Cessna 206 aircraft.

The umbilicus was still attached so this calf may not have had the mother’s first Colostrum milk to trigger her immune system. She was therefore given Elephant plasma (frozen in our deep freezer) through a saline drip directly into an ear vein.

Although the reason for her being orphaned is not definitely known, she is likely to also be a poaching victim. Her arrival brought the number of Nursery inmates to 24.

Adopt Mutara 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 Mutara 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

14 years old

Gender

Female

Rescued date

27 July 2009

Rescue Location

Laikipia, Mutara Ranch

Date of Birth (approximate)

20 July 2009

Reason Orphaned

Poaching

Age at Rescue

1 week old (approx)

Current Location

Living Wild

Mutara'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 Mutara the gift of life by adopting today.

Mutara's Calves

Meet Mutara's wild born offspring.

Mambo

Male

On the night of 8th March 2022, just as our Ithumba team was getting ready for bed, Mutara and her herd appeared outside the stockades with a baby in their midst! He was a newborn: Mutara had clearly given birth earlier that evening. Mutara subsequently decided to spend her first night as a mother around the Ithumba Reintegration Unit, sharing this special moment with Benjamin and the other Keepers who raised her. Read more

Latest updates featuring Mutara

Bondeni, Kindani, and Kinyei Graduate

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Melia's Extraordinary Ithumba Birth

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Mutara Becomes a Mother

Read more

Mutara's latest photos

Mutara and her group

Mutara and Mambo in the water followed by Kainuk

Mutara and Mambo

Mutara getting ready to dust

Rohot playing with Mutara

Mambo with Mutara

Malkia leading Mutara's group

Mutara's group having a drink at the water trough