Loldaiga

A chill elephant who is curiously not that interested in milk

About Loldaiga

  • Current age

    4 years old

  • Gender

    Male

  • Rescued date

    15 January 2023

  • Rescue location

    Laikipia, Lolldaiga Hills

  • Date of birth (estimate)

    19 July 2020

  • Reason orphaned

    Drought related

  • Age at rescue

    2 years old (approx)

  • Current location

    Ithumba Reintegration Unit

Adopt Loldaiga for yourself, or as a gift

Loldaiga's rescue

Fresh into the new year, yet another drought victim entered our midst. On 15th January 2023, we received a call about an orphaned elephant in the Lolldaiga Hills, north of Mount Kenya. This area had been badly affected by the drought. While scant rains in December offered some measure of relief, the landscape continued to suffer.

This calf had been observed on his own for about a week and was clearly struggling. At two years old, he was on the larger side, but still deeply vulnerable. It is possible that he lost his mother, either to the drought or interlinked human-wildlife conflict, or he became too weak to keep up with his herd and was abandoned. This is a story we have seen played out too many times over the past year, as the youngest elephants are often the first to fall during difficult times.

As we mobilised a rescue from Nairobi, the SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Mobile Vet Unit reported to the scene. It was a challenging operation. The calf was located a 30-minute drive from the nearest airstrip, and his size made mobility difficult. Given his compromised state, we didn’t want him to be recumbent for too long.

In the end, everything unfolded like clockwork. The ground team managed to secure the calf and arrived at the airstrip just as the plane was landing. Without wasting a moment, our Keepers disembarked and secured the young chap onboard. We named him Loldaiga, to forever connect him to his homeland. 

By late afternoon, Loldaiga had arrived in Nairobi. We had to tread carefully, giving him ample time to recover and become used to his new home. For several weeks, he recuperated inside the peace and security of his stockade. His presence garnered a lot of interest among the Nursery herd, who couldn’t wait to meet their new friend.

On 6th February, Loldaiga was finally ready to join the Nursery herd out in the forest. At noon, the Keepers shepherded the orphans up to his stockade, where they welcomed the young bull and escorted him out. For a long time, the others were too excited to browse, instead clustering around the newcomer. Loldaiga initially accepted their mothering, but then found it too overwhelming and ran off in search of a Keeper — with Kinyei, Kindani and Olorien in hot pursuit! In the weeks since, he has really settled into the routine and found his place among the Nursery herd.

Loldaiga’s Keepers report that he is a gentle, shy boy who is happiest when quietly sandwiched among fellow peace-loving orphans. At the moment, he is closest with Weka, Muwingu, Mageno, and Kitich. Muwingu, who is his nighttime neighbour, and Weka have become particularly good friends. Given his lonely beginnings, it is special to see this young bull so surrounded by love. 


This calf had been observed on his own for about a week and was clearly struggling. At two years old, he was on the larger side, but still deeply vulnerable. It is possible that he lost his mother, either to the drought or interlinked human-wildlife conflict, or he became too weak to keep up with his herd and was abandoned. This is a story we have seen played out too many times over the past year, as the youngest elephants are often the first to fall during difficult times.

Latest updates featuring Loldaiga

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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.

Read more

Loldaiga's Latest Photos

Access the most recent photos featuring Loldaiga

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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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