Kalama’s story with us began in 2009. Early one May morning, four Samburu tribesmen discovered a baby elephant at the bottom of their well. She had obviously fallen inside overnight and had spent hours standing chest-deep in water. Heroically, the men managed to extract her, and a rescue was organised.

Kalama, as we named her, was just four months old. She arrived at the Nursery calm and curious, but by nightfall, severe anxiety set in. As we struggled to soothe her psychological wounds, we also worked hard to get ahead of the high risk of pneumonia that comes with well victims.

Fortunately, little Kalama prevailed in all categories. Being so young, she was quick to embrace her new human-elephant family. She put on weight quickly and was soon in the heart of the Nursery’s hurly-burly antics. A charmer and a toughie in equal measure, Kalama enchanted everyone she met — but was also notorious for her toddler spats, particularly with age-mate Turkwel. (The girls are now both living wild in Ithumba and have mended their fences!)

In 2011, Kalama graduated from the Nursery to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit in Tsavo East National Park. She had always been quite clingy towards her Keepers, so it was little surprise that she stuck to her ‘team in green’ like glue. However, as soon as she reunited with old Nursery friends, she made herself right at home. Kalama has always loved mud baths — and on her first afternoon, she quite literally dove into Ithumba life: she was the most active in the pool, rolling around with great enthusiasm and playing with the bigger wild elephants, completely at home in her new environment.

At Ithumba, Kalama’s journey back to the wild slowly unfolded. By 2015, she was leading a fully wild life, having formed an ex-orphan herd with Olare, Chaimu, Melia, Tumaren, Naisula, Murka, Kilaguni, Kibo, Kitirua, Kandecha, Chemi Chemi, Makireti, Kasigau, Ishanga and Kilabasi — a mix of males and females who were all close Nursery friends. Over the years, her herd has shifted and evolved, as is common in elephant society. Today, she can often be found with her good friend Kitirua or serving as a loyal nanny to her friends’ babies, particularly Tumaren and Melia’s kids.

Despite now living an independent life, Kalama continues to be a reliable visitor at Ithumba. Our suspicions that she was expecting were confirmed as her belly continued to grow over the past 22 months. In fact, just the other week we were remarking that Kalama’s due date must be imminent — she had grown round as a mango!

And so, July began on an auspicious note. In the very early morning hours, the Keepers spotted a quartet of elephants standing outside the stockade compound. It was still dark out, but they could identify the forms of Kalama, Kitirua, Maramoja and Sana Sana. Looking closer, they realised this was no ordinary visit — it was a baby debut! Kalama had a newborn girl at her feet.

The girls patiently waited until dawn, when the dependent orphans were let out of their stockades. A few minutes later, Chaimu, Nabulu, Malkia, Sities, Sunni, Kuishi, Tumaren, Tembo and Ishanga arrived. There was a lot of trumpeting and bellowing of joy as they all surrounded the baby and congratulated Kalama for becoming a mother.

We named the baby Kapuki, which means ‘first-born daughter’ in Swahili. It’s a perfect name for Kalama’s first baby! She is bright and curious, just like her mother. In a very special twist, Kapuki shares a birthday with SWT CEO, Angela Sheldrick.

Since debuting her newborn, Kalama and Kapuki have been near-daily visitors at Ithumba. It is as if Kalama appreciates, as a first-time mother, having her support system around her. We feel incredibly blessed to witness the beginning of Kapuki’s life and cannot wait to see what the following years and decades have in store for her.

2025 is shaping up to be a momentous year for our ex-orphan mothers. We are only halfway through the year, but already we have met seven new ‘grandbabies’ — including six in Ithumba! We know of many more females who are pregnant, and there will likely be even more who surprise us.

It is a very special time in Ithumba — surrounded by all this new life, created from orphans saved many years ago. This is the beauty of the Orphans’ Project, paving the way for generations of elephants.