Has fully embraced her wild life in Tsavo East National Park
Current age
30 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
1 November 1994
Rescue location
Maasai Mara, Aitong
Date of birth (estimate)
1 November 1994
Reason orphaned
Poaching
Age at rescue
0 weeks old (approx)
Current location
Living Wild
When first seen, she was still surrounded by her confused elephant family who for the next three days desperately tried to get the brain damaged infant, who could only walk in circles, to follow. In the end, they had to give up and leave her, by which time she was in a near dead state of total collapse. Fortunately, it was a Veterinarian who rescued her and who was able to administer rehydration through a tube inserted down her throat directly into her stomach, which undoubtedly saved her life.
She was flown back to the Nairobi Nursery, and for many weeks precariously hovered between life and death, still only able to walk in tight circles. We feared that she would never recover, and, would end up having to be euthanised. Indeed, there was one night when she almost died, but again was saved by the insertion of a pipe directly to the stomach by the same Vet who rescued her.
Weeks turned into months, and slowly and painfully Aitong began to recover, initially learning to walk straight by holding onto Imenti’s tail, so that she could follow the other Nursery elephants. Their patience, care of her, and sympathetic understanding undoubtedly contributed towards her final recovery.
Aitong turned into a wonderfully caring elephant who could always be relied upon to come to the help of others in trouble, the adored mother figure to Sweet Sally. Although we have not seen her for some years now since she left Emily's herd, we are confident she is enjoying a wonderful life out in the wild where she belongs, with her wild friends and family.
When first seen, she was still surrounded by her confused elephant family who for the next three days desperately tried to get the brain damaged infant, who could only walk in circles, to follow. In the end, they had to give up and leave her, by which time she was in a near dead state of total collapse. Fortunately, it was a Veterinarian who rescued her and who was able to administer rehydration through a tube inserted down her throat directly into her stomach, which undoubtedly saved her life.
She was flown back to the Nairobi Nursery, and for many weeks precariously hovered between life and death, still only able to walk in tight circles. We feared that she would never recover, and, would end up having to be euthanised. Indeed, there was one night when she almost died, but again was saved by the insertion of a pipe directly to the stomach by the same Vet who rescued her.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Joseph Sauni, the Head Keeper at the Voi Elephant Rehabilitation Centre in Southern Tsavo East National Park, was on a routine motorized patrol on the 13th April, 2012, when he happened upon the Ex Orphans of Emilys now wild unit, who were actually already on their way back to the Voi Stockades
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