Now living wild, where she is a mother of one
Current age
16 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
27 June 2009
Rescue location
Tsavo Ecosystem, Tsavo East NP
Date of birth (estimate)
3 July 2008
Reason orphaned
Poaching
Age at rescue
11 months old (approx)
Current location
Living Wild
Baby elephants definitely cannot survive without milk if orphaned under 3 years of age, and few manage to survive even when orphaned between 3 and 5 years of age. Whilst wild living elephants will usually accept and protect an orphaned baby to the best of their ability, once the orphan weakens as a result of milk deprivation, and begins to jeopardise the survival of the herd, the matriarch has to make the decision to abandon it to its fate in the interests of all the others under her leadership. There are very few, if any, elephants that will have to lactating capacity to nurture an orphan as well as their own calf, especially during a tough dry spell, and calves at foot themselves are extremely possessive of their mother’s milk bar, and will go to great lengths to prevent another from usurping what they view as their prerogative.
With the help of KWS Rangers, our Voi Elephant Keepers were able to overpower the abandoned calf, and having covered its head with a blanket and bound its legs, transported it back to the Voi Stockades for the night where it took water, and a little milk from a bucket. The next morning it was airlifted to the Nairobi Nursery., initially named “Sombe” after the KWS Security Commander, but later renamed Melia after the African Mohogany Trees (Melia Volkensi) which are a feature of the area, and were planted by the late David Sheldrick around the Headquarters and at the 5 Entrance Gates to Tsavo East National Park.
Little “Melia” was quite feisty upon arrival in the Nursery (a good sign) and gave her Keepers quite a run around during her first night in the stockade abutting that of Tassia. However, she took water from a bucket and during the night managed some milk from a bottle, though not without a struggle. However, having been in the stockade for 24 hours, and observed the behaviour of the other Nursery orphans around their Keepers, she had calmed down sufficiently to suck the Keepers’ fingers and take milk.
Baby elephants definitely cannot survive without milk if orphaned under 3 years of age, and few manage to survive even when orphaned between 3 and 5 years of age. Whilst wild living elephants will usually accept and protect an orphaned baby to the best of their ability, once the orphan weakens as a result of milk deprivation, and begins to jeopardise the survival of the herd, the matriarch has to make the decision to abandon it to its fate in the interests of all the others under her leadership. There are very few, if any, elephants that will have to lactating capacity to nurture an orphan as well as their own calf, especially during a tough dry spell, and calves at foot themselves are extremely possessive of their mother’s milk bar, and will go to great lengths to prevent another from usurping what they view as their prerogative.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Loijuk’s story with us spans some 18 years and counting. She was rescued just a few days into 2006. Samburu tribesmen found a young calf wandering on her own near a swamp called Loijuk.
In an Ithumba first, Milo was born just outside the stockades on the morning of 29th October 2022. Despite being a drought baby, he is very healthy and unusually large. Melia, who is a first-time mum, is taking this new chapter in stride. She is ably supported by her friends, including Loijuk, Sities, Kalama, and Olare. (Photos 1 - 3 copyright Andrew Stewart) Read more
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