She overcame a traumatic rescue to become one of our most nurturing females
Current age
9 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
28 November 2016
Rescue location
Tsavo Ecosystem, Tsavo East NP
Date of birth (estimate)
4 February 2016
Reason orphaned
Drought related
Age at rescue
9 months old (approx)
Current location
Ithumba Reintegration Unit
Although some rain had fallen recently, it had come too late for the mother, who had obviously been struggling for a long time evidenced by the bare earth that surrounded while her desperate baby helplessly stood by her side. This sighting was immediately reported to the SWT/KWS funded Mobile Veterinary Unit headed by Dr. Poghon, and together with Keepers from our Voi stockades, the rescue teams proceeded to the scene, having been given coordinates by the Tsavo Trust Pilot.
Upon arrival it seemed likely that the calf’s mother had succumbed to the effects of the past brutal dry season and was dying of starvation for she was barely breathing and too far gone to get to her feet and retrieve, her emaciated calf, of approximately l0 months old, bravely standing by her side protecting her. The calf was still feisty, although thin, for she too had clearly suffered the effects of the drought, having been deprived of her mother’s milk. The Rescue Team worked hard to try and save the collapsed mother, but sadly she slipped away, so their attention then turned to capturing the young calf. This was accomplished swiftly after which she was restrained and placed in the back of a Landcruiser and brought safely back to the Voi stockades to await the arrival of a rescue aircraft from Nairobi to ferry the baby to the SWT Nairobi Nursery.
Although some rain had fallen recently, it had come too late for the mother, who had obviously been struggling for a long time evidenced by the bare earth that surrounded while her desperate baby helplessly stood by her side. This sighting was immediately reported to the SWT/KWS funded Mobile Veterinary Unit headed by Dr. Poghon, and together with Keepers from our Voi stockades, the rescue teams proceeded to the scene, having been given coordinates by the Tsavo Trust Pilot.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
On 19th May 2024, two very special orphans — boys who have been best friends from day one — made the journey to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit, where they will continue their journey back to the wild. For one of them, this graduation was also a return home.
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