Kitich

A polite, confident bull who loves his friend

About Kitich

  • Current age

    4 years old

  • Gender

    Male

  • Rescued date

    14 September 2022

  • Rescue location

    Samburu, Namunyak Conservancy

  • Date of birth (estimate)

    3 March 2021

  • Reason orphaned

    Human-Wildlife Conflict

  • Age at rescue

    18 months old (approx)

  • Current location

    Ithumba Reintegration Unit

Adopt Kitich for yourself, or as a gift

Kitich's rescue

In the forested Mathews Mountain Range of northern Kenya, elephants drink from crystal clear streams and forage from the lush bushland. But in 2022, this wooded mountainous paradise has fallen into the grips of a drought, as has much of the country.

On 14th September, Northern Rangelands Trust called us about a young calf who had been abandoned in Kitich Forest Camp, which is situated in a remote valley looking over a glade in the Mathews Range. Based on his diminutive size and tiny tusks, he was estimated to be a year and a half old. His story before that point remains a mystery, but we can surmise that he had grown too weak to keep up with his herd or lost his mother to human-wildlife conflict, which is a tragic symptom of the drought.

Given the remote northern location, a chartered helicopter scooped up the calf at Kitich Camp and flew him directly to our Nairobi Nursery.

The Keepers were greeted by an exhausted and weak elephant. Despite the stress of the day’s events, he seemed resigned to his fate. This is always a worrying sign; a spirited calf might just have that extra bit of will needed to pull through, while a lacklustre one could struggle to summon the resolve. However, we have brought many elephants back from the brink before, even those who no longer have the strength to fight for themselves. 

We named the calf Kitich, to forever connect him to his first homeland. He arrived at the Nursery very weak. With drought victims, we have learned over the years that they often deteriorate further before they begin to rally.

The weekend before Kitich arrived, we rescued two very special girls: Weka, from Tsavo East National Park, and Muwingu, from Laikipia. Like Kitich, both elephants are victims of the drought. Together, they form an inseparable trio. This bond helped them all through those precarious early weeks. Weka and Muwingu are a bit feistier than Kitich, so they really bolstered his resolve. Their friendship, coupled with 24/7 nurturing care from his Keepers, helped Kitich pull through to the other side. Kitich, Weka, and Muwingu spend their days together, browsing quietly in each others’ company and observing the bustle of the Nursery herd from the sidelines. It is lovely to see how much comfort they get from one another.

This is just the beginning of Kitich’s story. He has already shown remarkable progress in the few weeks he has been with us. In the coming weeks and years, we know he will continue to flourish.

On 14th September, Northern Rangelands Trust called us about a young calf who had been abandoned in Kitich Forest Camp, which is situated in a remote valley looking over a glade in the Mathews Range. Based on his diminutive size and tiny tusks, he was estimated to be a year and a half old. His story before that point remains a mystery, but we can surmise that he had grown too weak to keep up with his herd or lost his mother to human-wildlife conflict, which is a tragic symptom of the drought.

Latest updates featuring Kitich

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Keepers Diaries

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

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Mageno, Kitich, and Muwingu Graduate to Ithumba

On 9th June 2025, Mageno, Kitich, and Muwingu graduated from the Nursery and moved to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit in Tsavo East National Park, where they will continue their journey back to the wild.

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Kitich's Latest Photos

Access the most recent photos featuring Kitich

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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

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