Emily

Now living wild, where she is a matriarch and mother of an ever-growing family

About Emily

  • Current age

    31 years old

  • Gender

    Female

  • Rescued date

    15 November 1993

  • Rescue location

    Tsavo Ecosystem, Tsavo East NP

  • Date of birth (estimate)

    1 October 1993

  • Reason orphaned

    Trapped in septic pit

  • Age at rescue

    1 month old (approx)

  • Current location

    Living Wild

Adopt Emily for yourself, or as a gift

Emily's rescue

“Emily” is estimated to have been born in Tsavo West National Park in September 1993. She was just l month old when her family were crossing from Tsavo West into Tsavo East, passing the Manyani Prison Camp en route, and in the process this tiny calf fell down a disused pit latrine. The herd milled around helplessly, confused and traumatized, which attracted Rangers from the nearby Manyani Entrance Gate to the Park.

As the Rangers approached, the herd moved a short distance away, following which the calf was able to be pulled out of the pit, but she emerged covered in stinking human faeces. An attempt to reunite her with her mother failed, due to the human scent on the baby which was so over-powering that the mother did not recognize her baby as even an elephant, and flung the calf aside before running away in terror.

It took Emily 4 months to recover both physically and psychologically from this terrible ordeal, which involved rejection from her own family - a devastating blow for a tiny elephant who has always been surrounded by tender care, cosetting and love. During this time she suffered many physical problems as well as deep grieving. These included stomach upsets and eventually a sluggish peristalsis of the gut that caused a blockage and severe stomach cramps. The condition was so serious that it necessitated sedation, in order that gallons of liquid paraffin could be administered through a tube inserted down the throat and directly into the stomach cavity. We feared that we might lose her during this process, but she managed to pull through, and in time made a full recovery.

During her two years in the Nairobi Nursery, she was always very caring of the smaller and younger babies, especially attached to “Imenti”, who came in the day he was born. The elephant who grew up to be Emily’s very proficient “Nannie”, namely “Aitong”, was another Nursery favourite, who had suffered a blow to the head that left her able only to walk in circles for weeks. By holding onto the tail of either Emily or Imenti, she eventually managed to walk in a straight line, and also made a full recovery.
Once through the critical Nursery stage, she joined the other older orphans in Tsavo East National Park, who were in the process of re-integration back into the wild system. At that time, the famous elephant “Eleanor” was the Matriarch of the group, which besides being comprised of the ex Nursery young bulls, (Olmeg, Taru, Dika, Ndume, Edo and Ajok) took charge of three other calves orphaned old enough to be given directly into her care, namely Lissa, Chuma and Mpenzi.
Eleanor left us to become a wild member of the wild Tsavo elephant community when she became pregnant for the first time in her early forties. The three orphans who were more dependent upon her, than the human family of Keepers, namely Lissa, Chuma and Mpenzi, went with her, and were handed into the care of her wild best friend, the Matriarch since named “Catherine”. With the departure of Eleanor, Emily became the oldest female in the still dependent group of ex-Nursery orphans, and in the fullness of time, the bulls who were older than her peeled off to consort with wild male friends, as young bulls do in adolescence, so Emily became the acknowledged Leader, or Matriarch, of the Voi Unit, with Aitong as her 'second in command' and Nannie, a position both cows retain today, as and when they meet up with the still dependent others, for Emily and Aitong have now graduated from the Night Stockades, and are out and about by night as well as by day, now that they are of an age when they will not be targeted by lions. However, they still keep in very close touch with the other orphans, either waiting at the Stockade Gates at first light to accompany the group out into the bush during the day, and escorting them back at night, or meeting up with them wherever they happen to be during the day if they happen to miss the morning exit. There are occasions when Emily, Aitong, and Aitong’s little shadow, “Sweet Sally” (who refused to be separated from Airong) may choose to spend a few days elsewhere with wild friends and therefore spend several days away, but invariably, so far, they have never failed to make contact again, greeted with tremendous rejoicing and affection from their extended orphaned “family”. We believe that this affiliation will last for life, since elephants never forget, and the ties that bond friends and family are very strong. In their absence, “Natumi” assumes leadership of the still dependent orphans, an arrangement that is accepted by all.
In October 2005, Emily will be 12 years of age, and “Aitong” 11. We suspect that both may now be pregnant, so two happy events are eagerly anticipated in two years time! Unlike Eleanor, who left because she feared humans would take her calf from her after it had been born, Emily and Aitong will harbour no such fears, having been through the Nairobi Nursery themselves, and seen that the human “family” that saved their lives, and the lives of many others that came in broken-hearted and often sick and wounded, are beloved good Samaritans rather than feared abductors of the young!

As the Rangers approached, the herd moved a short distance away, following which the calf was able to be pulled out of the pit, but she emerged covered in stinking human faeces. An attempt to reunite her with her mother failed, due to the human scent on the baby which was so over-powering that the mother did not recognize her baby as even an elephant, and flung the calf aside before running away in terror.

Latest updates featuring Emily

See all updates

Keepers Diaries

View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers

Read more

Melia's Extraordinary Ithumba Birth

Yesterday at dawn, we witnessed the miracle of life unfold just outside the Ithumba stockades.

Read more

Emily's Latest Photos

Access the most recent photos featuring Emily

View more

Emily's Calves

Eve

Eve is the first calf of Emily, an orphan living back in the wild, who was born just before Christmas in 2008. Her primary nanny during her first few years was Edie, another orphan living back in the wild. Read more

Emma

This naughty little calf is very outgoing and is always seeking out new playmates, regardless of their age or size. She`s even been known to challenge big ex-orphans like Moran to pushing games. She loves meeting new friends and hanging out with Lesanju`s ex-orphan herd. Her nannies are sister, Eve and Moran. Read more

What's included in your adoption?

By adopting, you play a vital role in the life of an orphaned elephant, rhino, or giraffe — helping us provide the round-the-clock, loving attention each one needs and deserves over many years, so they can ultimately reclaim their place in the wild.

Your adoption supports the 100+ orphans in our care at any given time, covering the cost of milk and food supplies, Keepers' salaries, veterinary treatment, and other essentials.

Personalised adoption certificate

Celebrate your adoption with a personalised certificate, ready for you or your lucky gift recipient to print and display!

Monthly updates

Each month, we send a detailed update about our Orphans’ Project direct to your email inbox, featuring photos, stories, and special highlights.

Exclusive content

From the latest Keepers’ Diaries to a downloadable image gallery and more, adopters have exclusive access to our content library.

Do you have any questions?

Please refer to our FAQs for more information on the Adoption Program. However, if there is any specific question that is not on the FAQs page, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to assist you.
FAQs

You can also adopt

Chapeyu

Gender

Male

Age

7 years

Unit

Voi

Reason orphaned

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Adopt Chapeyu

Tali

Gender

Male

Age

2 years

Unit

Nairobi Nursery

Reason orphaned

Found alone

Adopt Tali

Itinyi

Gender

Male

Age

6 years

Unit

Voi

Reason orphaned

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Adopt Itinyi

You can also adopt

Chapeyu

Gender

Male

Age

7 years

Unit

Voi

Reason orphaned

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Adopt Chapeyu

Tali

Gender

Male

Age

2 years

Unit

Nairobi Nursery

Reason orphaned

Found alone

Adopt Tali

Itinyi

Gender

Male

Age

6 years

Unit

Voi

Reason orphaned

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Adopt Itinyi