Panda's Story

A lone Elephant Calf of approximately 2 years old had first been seen by the Community of Mgeno Ranch (abutting Tsavo National Park) on the l8th July 2012. The Trust’s Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit was alerted and our Voi Keepers immediately went to the site to try and rescue the calf. Darkness fell without them being able to locate the baby, and so they returned back to Voi empty handed. They did leave instructions with the Ranch staff to contact them immediately should they sight the calf again. On the 20th July the calf reappeared, still alone and emaciated and quite obviously an orphan, extremely lucky to have not fallen prey to predators. She is most certainly a poaching victim as incidents of poaching within the adjacent ranches to Tsavo National Park have been very bad in recent months.

Panda's Story

A lone Elephant Calf of approximately 2 years old had first been seen by the Community of Mgeno Ranch (abutting Tsavo National Park) on the l8th July 2012. The Trust’s Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit was alerted and our Voi Keepers immediately went to the site to try and rescue the calf. Darkness fell without them being able to locate the baby, and so they returned back to Voi empty handed. They did leave instructions with the Ranch staff to contact them immediately should they sight the calf again. On the 20th July the calf reappeared, still alone and emaciated and quite obviously an orphan, extremely lucky to have not fallen prey to predators. She is most certainly a poaching victim as incidents of poaching within the adjacent ranches to Tsavo National Park have been very bad in recent months.

The Trust’s Voi Rescue Team along with KWS were alerted a second time. The calf, a female of about 2 years old, very thin and weak and almost in a state of collapse by the time the rescuers arrived was literally on her last legs by the time they arrived. Upon arrival at the Voi Stockades to was helped to her feet and she took rehydration and later milk. She was given the name Panda to identify the specific place from whence she was rescued, a raised region of the Ranch known by that name. It was decided that Panda would remain at Voi and be raised there due to her age, and not be flown to the Nairobi Nursery. Instead she is to be raised in Voi amidst the Voi older orphans, who already have imparted much love and comfort. For Panda the Voi area remains familiar, not too far from where she was living a wild life, and she is once again united by a loving elephant family, to Voi Orphans who understand what she has been through and who will look to heal her emotional scars. With each passing day she grows stronger.

Soon after her arrival at the Voi stockades, there was another Elephant Rescue called for, also from Tsavo, of a yearling calf subsequently named Bomani so on this day our Voi Keepers certainly had their hands full. Credit to them for doing a wonderful job, and to all those whose actions helped save these two precious lives.

Adopt Panda 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 Panda 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

13 years old

Gender

Female

Rescued date

20 July 2012

Rescue Location

Tsavo Ecosystem, Taita Ranches

Date of Birth (approximate)

2 August 2010

Reason Orphaned

Poaching

Age at Rescue

23 months old (approx)

Current Location

Living Wild

Panda'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 Panda the gift of life by adopting today.

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Panda's latest photos

Ex orphan Panda playing with a wild ele

Panda scratching

Ndotto and Panda sparring

Murit and Panda sparring

Panda left and Godoma

Panda and Naipoki sparring

Panda and Godoma browsing

Panda strutting her stuff