Kinango


Sadly Kinango passed away on October 15th, 2012. He shall forever remain in our hearts

Back to Orphans Next Orphan

Kinango's Story

At around 4pm on the 11th August a call was received about a tiny newborn elephant calf discovered by KWS personnel in the Kwale area outside of the Shimba Hills National Park.

Kinango's Story

The elephant calf was stranded, hungry and visibly stressed when it was first found walking along the Kwale-Kinango road near the Mwadabawa junction, later seeking comfort under an abandoned truck which obviously felt like Mum.

The KWS team under the direction of Warden Philemon Chebet captured the calf immediately and contacted the DSWT for further support and to get the baby airlifted to Nairobi. With the onset of nightfall the Nairobi rescue team could not be deployed until the following day, so the calf was cared for at the KWS headquarters over night. The following morning the Assistant Warden and Honoree Warden Mr. Peter Zaneeti met the Nairobi rescue team who arrived to collect the calf and take it into their care.

Origionally because he was so tiny it was thought he was new born and a plasma drip was administered to this vulnerable male calf in an attempt to ensure his immune system was boosted, but now that a few weeks on he has begun to teeth is would suggest that he was between 3 – 4 weeks on arrival.

Despite being an incredibly vulnerable newborn calf, Kinango as he has since been named, has been taking his milk with enthusiasm from his keepers and is very much a treasured and precious part of the Nairobi Orphan’s group, pampered by all the older elephants.

Since the calf’s discovery KWS discovered poaching in the area, that would suggest that the reason for the calf’s abandonment could well be poaching, or possibly human wildlife conflict.

Despite loosing condition through the initial teething process, Kinango has been recovering well, despite needing constant attention from his dedicated Keepers. He has very much attached himself to one of the Nursery bulls called Orwa who is very lenient when Kinango shows his affection by suckling his underbelly for hours on end.

Date of Passing

15 October 2012

Gender

Male

Rescued date

26 August 2012

Rescue Location

Unknown

Date of Birth (approximate)

5 August 2012

Reason Orphaned

Poaching

Age at Rescue

3 weeks old (approx)

Passed away

15 October 2012

Kinango's featured images

Kinango's Archival Updates

The Rescue of Rorogi

Read more

Yet More Tears: Another Blow to the Nairobi Nursery - The Sudden and Unexpected Death of Precious Baby Kinango

Read more

Yao Ming and the Orphans

Read more

Kinango's Archival Photos

Kinango around the stockades

Kinango having milk

Kinango under Kilabasi

Kinango and Julius

Kinango suckling Mutara

Adano with Murera, Kinango and Barsilinga

Sweet Kinango with Kingoo

Kinango out with the other orphans