Raising young orphaned elephants requires extraordinary commitment. It takes the absolute dedication of our Keepers to shepherd them through their first months and milestones, until they are ready to rejoin wild populations. In the wild, a baby elephant would never be alone. Many of the orphans we are called to rescue are victims of drought, found trapped down wells, or orphaned by human–wildlife conflict. Two were even personally deposited into our care by a herd of elephants; they found the lone orphans and brought them directly to us.

At our Nursery, rescued orphans find sanctuary to heal and thrive. Raising them from recovery to reintegration is a long-term commitment, one that spans upwards of a decade. Every step of the way, we are by their sides; from milk bottle feeds to night time cuddles, and first mud baths to graduating to one of our Reintegration Units . Once wild, our field teams take up the mantle, watching over the orphans as guardians of the wild.

These rescued babies are entirely reliant on us for food, comfort and protection. An adoption can help us offer the love of a new family, and a support system that will see them through one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.

We have worked in Kenya for nearly 50 years to save elephants. In fact, our late Founder, Dame Daphne Sheldrick, was the very first person in the world to discover the milk formula and husbandry needed to raise milk-dependent baby elephants, and the care they require to survive infancy. This knowledge has saved the lives of over 300 orphaned elephants and informs our entire approach to raising them, prioritising not just their physical health, but their psychological needs too.

Each infant in our care is surrounded by a small army of humans who dedicate their lives to their healing. Our team of Keepers are nurturers and guides. They spend every waking minute with the orphaned elephants – and throughout the night too. They swaddle calves in blankets when it is chilly, hand-pick their favourite greens, and gently teach them how to be wild elephants – just as their mothers would have.

As our Keepers will happily attest, a baby elephant will capture your heart: each one is completely unique and enchanting. Whether its their big butterfly ears or tender tiny trunks, there is much to fall in love with - but there is much more to these incredible animals than first meets the eye. Discover why we need to protect elephants.

Without elephants, our world would look very different. Poaching, habitat loss, and other human-driven challenges threaten the species and leave orphans behind — but thanks to our supporters, our field conservation projects are forging a better future for elephants. As well as rescuing their orphaned young, we fund veterinary treatments to save injured elephants, prevent human-wildlife conflict, protect critical habitats, and patrol to deter illegal activities that cause harm to herds. Learn more.