A delightful mischief maker and a friend to everyone
Current age
10 years old
Gender
Male
Rescued date
9 March 2015
Rescue location
Samburu, Namunyak Conservancy
Date of birth (estimate)
16 February 2015
Reason orphaned
Trapped in a well
Age at rescue
3 weeks old (approx)
Current location
Voi Reintegration Unit
On their return on the 7th of March the stranded, exhausted and now injured calf remained stricken in the well. His desperate ongoing attempts to free himself left him with bruises and a rubbed raw back from struggling against the jagged well sides. It was at this point the community reported the matter to the Namunyak Conservation Ranger post based at Kitich camp who informed the KWS personnel based at Wamba. A team was sent to the scene and the calf was finally extracted late afternoon of the 8th, too late to mobilize a rescue plane from Nairobi in time. By this time he had remained submerged in the well for approximately 48 hours.
KWS officers and rangers were briefed by the SWT as to how to handle the calf and were urged to refrain from feeding him any milk, as the wrong milk is more harmful than helpful in these situations. The calf remained with company all night safely wrapped with a blanket and given water and rehydration salts.
On their return on the 7th of March the stranded, exhausted and now injured calf remained stricken in the well. His desperate ongoing attempts to free himself left him with bruises and a rubbed raw back from struggling against the jagged well sides. It was at this point the community reported the matter to the Namunyak Conservation Ranger post based at Kitich camp who informed the KWS personnel based at Wamba. A team was sent to the scene and the calf was finally extracted late afternoon of the 8th, too late to mobilize a rescue plane from Nairobi in time. By this time he had remained submerged in the well for approximately 48 hours.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Itinyi is the last of the ‘Voi Kids’ to be rescued in the 2022 drought. He was orphaned after his mother was killed before his eyes — a heartbreaking note upon which to end a time of great hardship.
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