Mutara's Story
The 26th July 2009 brought not only the rescue of two and a half month old Tano from Loisaba Ranch, but also a newborn, who was seen all alone at 2pm on the road between Rumuruti town in Laikipia and the ADC ranch known as Mutara. Mutara called the Kenyan Wildlife Service, and since it was by then too late to initiate a rescue (added to the fact that all our phone land lines were out of action) the ADC Ranch personally alerted the Ol Pejeta Conservancy requesting them to care for the calf for the night.
And so it was, that on the 27th July 2009, the newborn baby female calf who has been named Mutara, after the ADC station that saved her from certain death, came to us flown in this time by East African Air Charters, in a small Cessna 206 aircraft.
Although the reason for her being orphaned is not definitely known, she is likely to also be a poaching victim. Her arrival brought the number of Nursery inmates to 24.
Current age
15 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
27 July 2009
Rescue location
Laikipia, Mutara Ranch
Date of birth (approximate)
20 July 2009
Reason orphaned
Poaching
Age at rescue
1 week old (approx)
Current location
Living Wild
Mutara's featured photos
Our digital adoption programme includes the following:
Personalised adoption certificate.
Monthly email update on your orphan and the project.
Monthly watercolour by Angela Sheldrick.
Access to special content; latest Keepers' Diaries, videos and photos
Give Mutara the gift of life by adopting today.
Mutara's Calves
Meet Mutara's wild born offspring.
On the night of 8th March 2022, just as our Ithumba team was getting ready for bed, Mutara and her herd appeared outside the stockades with a baby in their midst! He was a newborn: Mutara had clearly given birth earlier that evening. Mutara subsequently decided to spend her first night as a mother around the Ithumba Reintegration Unit, sharing this special moment with Benjamin and the other Keepers who raised her. Read more
Latest updates featuring Mutara
Mutara's latest photos
Mutara and Mambo
Mutara
Mambo and Mutara
Mutara
Mutara's group
Mutara and Mambo
Mutara and Mambo enjoying Lucerne
Mutara and Mambo enjoying Lucerene