Imenti
Has fully embraced his wild life in Tsavo East National Park
About Imenti
-
Current age
31 years old
-
Gender
Male
-
Rescued date
19 January 1994
-
Rescue location
Meru Region, Imenti Forest
-
Date of birth (estimate)
19 January 1994
-
Reason orphaned
Poaching
-
Age at rescue
0 weeks old (approx)
-
Current location
Living Wild
Adopt Imenti for yourself, or as a gift
Imenti's rescue
Imenti was born on the 19th January 1994 near the Imenti Forest in Meru. He was only hours old upon arrival in Nairobi, and was named after the forest that still harbours what remains of his beleaguered herd, entirely surrounded by cultivation and cut off from their traditional migratory route to Mount Kenya.
He was still covered in the foetal membranes on arrival, born as his mother died in a hail of gunfire, so is the youngest wild born elephant ever to have been successfully hand reared. Deprived of his mother's first colostrum to stimulate a new baby's immune system, he was a very fragile infant. Normally such calves never survive more than a few weeks, but in this case an infusion of plasma drawn from the blood of one of the older orphans saved the day.
He was still covered in the foetal membranes on arrival, born as his mother died in a hail of gunfire, so is the youngest wild born elephant ever to have been successfully hand reared. Deprived of his mother's first colostrum to stimulate a new baby's immune system, he was a very fragile infant. Normally such calves never survive more than a few weeks, but in this case an infusion of plasma drawn from the blood of one of the older orphans saved the day.
Latest updates featuring Imenti
See all updates
Keepers Diaries
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
The sad death of Merru
We have been battling hard with little Merru who came to us after a very torrid time, which resulted in significant visible injuries but also some sinister, not so obvious, internal trauma. He was rescued from the fringes of Imenti forest off the slopes of Mount Kenya having fallen into a deep quarry.
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
