Now living wild, though she continues to visit us regularly
Current age
17 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
1 March 2008
Rescue location
Mount Kenya Region, Sagana area
Date of birth (estimate)
7 July 2007
Reason orphaned
Man-made cause for separation
Age at rescue
7 months old (approx)
Current location
Living Wild
At 5:00 am on the morning of Saturday 1st March 2008, a community farmer named Mr. Kimaru noticed a lone elephant calf beyond the fenceline, which had obviously become separated and left behind by the passing herd.
With dawn fast approaching, something probably panicked the herd, which fled leaving the calf behind in the confusion, for it was in good condition. Mr. Kimaru contacted Edwin, the Community Officer of the Mt. Kenya Bill Woodley Trust, and the Kenyan Wildlife Service, after which Suzie Weeks of the Bill Woodley Trust dispatched a vehicle and personnel to help capture the calf and transport it to the nearest airfield, Nanyuki, to await the arrival of a chartered rescue plane, which was in the process of being organised by The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
The calf was captured at noon by Edwin of the Bill Woodley Mt. Kenya Trust, Kenya Wildlife Service Rangers and members of the community, and driven in a Pickup to the Nanyuki airstrip, a journey that took about one hour. It was then flown to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Elephant Nursery in Nairobi, there to become the 9th elephant calf currently in residence at the Nursery.
The elephant calf is a little female, roughly 8 months old and our Keepers decided that she be awarded the name 'Kenia' (spelled differently to the country name to avoid confusion with our website's automated search function) to mark the successful outcome of mediation by Mr. Koffi Annan which hopefully will restore peace following the disputed Presidential elections of last year. Tribally driven unrest due to alleged vote rigging has cost the lives of hundreds of Kenyans and displaced thousands of others. Most Kenyans are shell-shocked by what has taken place in their country which has been stable, democratic and peaceful for over 45 years of independence and which has always been the Show Piece of Africa. Resolution of the crisis took place a couple of days before the latest orphan was brought and it generated a carnival atmosphere. So in celebration of an anticipated return to normality among all the tribes that make up the population of Kenya, and fittingly too as she comes from the forests of Mount Kenya, we chose the name Kenia.
At 5:00 am on the morning of Saturday 1st March 2008, a community farmer named Mr. Kimaru noticed a lone elephant calf beyond the fenceline, which had obviously become separated and left behind by the passing herd.
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Voi is in full celebration mode, for Edie is now a mother of four! She debuted her newest arrival late at night on 26th January 2022.
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