A message from Angela Sheldrick, CEO, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust:

We always say that we are blessed with the most incredible and committed supporters in the world. Time and again, you show us the best of humanity, making our work possible with such generosity and goodwill.

This Giving Tuesday, you again rose to the challenge and helped us meet our biggest matched goal to date. Because of you, we raised an extraordinary $1.3 million for our conservation work today. I would also like to thank our generous philanthropic partners who committed to matching today's donations, making this campaign possible.

These funds will enable us to start the new year on a solid footing, providing the essential foundation for our conservation projects and allowing us to expand our initiatives. The need in the field has never been greater: We currently have more than 120 orphaned elephants still dependent on us, along with four orphaned black rhinos — including little Chamboi, who you met today!

We make a lifetime commitment to every single orphan we rescue — one that extends far beyond the decade or so they remain dependent on our care. This commitment takes the form of large-scale habitat protection initiatives, extensive ground patrols and aerial operations, mobile veterinary presence throughout Kenya, and wide-ranging community support. Your donations enable the comprehensive field presence and long-term conservation measures we have been building upon for 46 years and counting.

I write this note listening to the newly-full Athi River roaring its way through Tsavo, as contented wild animals move in the night. The rains have certainly arrived here in all their splendour, and in Tsavo, all life is celebrating! It feels like a most auspicious note to commemorate this occasion of remarkable generosity.

From all of us at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, thank you. Your committed support makes our conservation work possible.

With gratitude,
Angela Sheldrick

Your donation today is an investment in the future. The need in the field has never been greater: Growing threats including climate change, human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, and poaching have reshaped the landscape. Elephants and other creatures are struggling to find their place in our rapidly changing world. If we are to create a sustainable future for wildlife, we must act fast.

For nearly half a century and counting, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has committed itself to rescuing Kenya’s orphaned elephants, rhinos, and other wildlife, and protecting the habitats they call home. Our conservation work is made possible entirely through donor support.

Looking to the future, our focus is on coexistence. Humans may present the single greatest threat to our natural world, but we can also be part of the solution.

All our field conservation projects operate through the lens of coexistence. As we move forward, we will continue to hone in on this focus. Every single day, our teams work across Kenya to secure vulnerable habitats, support local communities, mitigate human-wildlife conflict, and help wildlife caught in the crosshairs.

By donating today, you empower us to answer the call across Kenya. Reflecting upon the past year, these are a few examples coexistence-focused field successes, all of which were made possible through donor support:

Murera’s Miracle Baby, Mwana: Murera stands out as our most miraculous orphan rescue, overcoming incredible odds to survive. This year, a new twist in her story unfolded, when she again beat the odds to give birth to a wild-born baby.

The Rescue of Orphaned Elephant Natibu: At first glance, it looked like an optical illusion: A tiny baby elephant was squashed inside a manhole, with just the top of his head visible. Now, Natibu has the family and the wild future he deserves.

Saving Three Elephants Trapped in a Dam: Earlier this month, a nighttime jaunt in a dam turned into a life-or-death situation for three bulls. After nearly 24 hours of watery incarceration, we were able to give them the emergency exit they needed.

A Daring River Rescue of a Marooned Driver: Working in conservation means being ready to answer the call, whatever it may be. When swirling flood waters trapped a truck driver in the middle of a raging river, our Aerial Unit flew to the rescue.

Protecting the Eastern Frontier of Tsavo East: Spanning some 2 million acres, Galana and Kulalu Ranches form an unfenced extension of Tsavo East National Park. Two years ago, we were approached to manage the conservation mandate of this vital buffer zone — a template we are eager to expand to more vulnerable habitats across Kenya.

Supporting the Next Generation of Kenyans: We provide community support through local employment opportunities, education initiatives, food distribution programs, and conservation solutions that benefit both humans and wildlife. Our new school lunch program serves more than 50 local schools, providing more than 16,000 schoolchildren with nutritious lunches every day.

Every elephant saved, every landscape secured, every field success story — that is your steadfast support and commitment at work. This Giving Tuesday, you can double your impact, making a difference that will be felt far into the future.