My Region: US
Our Global region presents an online merchandise store, and fundraising and giving options, appropriate for people living all over the world.
Currency: United States Dollar
Our US region presents an online merchandise store, tailored fundraising information, and donation options that are particularly pertinent to people in the United States of America.
Currency: United States Dollar
Our UK region presents an online merchandise store, tailored fundraising information, and donation options, including Gift Aid, that are specific to people in the United Kingdom.
Currency: British Pound
Our Europe region is best suited to those living in the Eurozone. All amounts for adoptions, donations, and goods in our online shop (orders shipped from UK) are displayed in Euros.
Currency: Euro
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His name, “Olmeg” is the Masai term for “ the outsider”, in other words, anyone who is not born a true pure blooded Masai warrior. This elephant was born near Maralal in Northern Kenya, and orphaned when he was just 2 weeks old, when his family stampeded under a hail of poachers’ bullets. It is not known how many elephants were killed or wounded on the day that Olmeg was left an orphan, for it was during a period when poaching was still completely out of control throughout the country, with elephants dying daily in large numbers everywhere, the Government Department charged with their protection often the main poaching culprits. The International Ivory Ban, which brought poaching under control, was still 3 years hence. This tiny calf fell into a deep trench as his family were running for their lives and there he was left for dead by the fleeing herd. He was found a day later by herdsmen, sunburnt, confused and very dehydrated. They took him to the nearby Maralal Safari Lodge, where he was kept for the next week, being fed on cows’ milk and grated carrots, which, of course, did him no good at all. Finally, when he looked as though he was going to die, the Manager, (who, nevertheless, had done his best) brought him to us, having heard that Daphne knew something about elephant orphans. The baby was in a pitiful state, suffering from serious diarrheoa (due to the incorrect diet) extremely sun damaged ears and a very septic umbilicus oozing pus.Meanwhile, we tried hard to persuade Olmeg to spend his nights in a small stone chicken house, (minus the chickens!) with just one of Daphne’s dresses, bearing her scent to represent that vital human presence, but he was having none of it, and the midnight walks around the yard continued, loud protests punctuating the night about the new sleeping arrangement. Unhappily, our Ranger Assistant didn’t work out either, for he lacked the empathy needed, and Olmeg hated him with a passion, refusing even to accept milk from him. Hence, the new Elephant Keeper had to be returned with thanks and we then set about recruiting our own, and, of course, more than just one, so that the men could have time off. Gradually, they took over the Orphan duties, and Daphne and Jill could not only catch up on lost sleep, but also turn their attention to the many other duties that had been sadly neglected!
Olmeg, was a true survivor. Miraculously, not only did he make a full recovery, but he weathered the many human errors in relation to his care to which we unwittingly subjected him. He taught us a great deal that we did not previously know, one being that even newborn elephants need space and become very claustrophobic when too closely confined. We knew now that the next batch of stables would have to be made a good deal larger. The next lesson was that the elephants choose their Keepers, and if an orphan does not bond with a Keeper, the man cannot become part of the elephant’s human “family” because he does not have the genuine emotional attachment needed. Elephants have an uncanny ability to read one’s heart and mind so the ingredient of “love” (essential to success), has to come straight from the heart. These any many other tips we learnt from Olmeg.
During all the years that Olmeg was growing up in Tsavo, no Keeper could begin to match the love he held for Daphne and Jill, who had mothered him in very early infancy back in the Nairobi Nursery. Whenever they visited Tsavo, he greeted them with unbridled joy and excitement, recognizing them instantly, even amongst a crowd of other visitors. When he became a teenager, he, Taru, Chuma and the other orphan bulls, took to spending time away from Eleanor’s group, which was growing year by year, seeking the company of other male friends, as is the way of teenage bulls in elephant society. For several years Olmeg used to return fairly regularly, but these visits became less frequent as time passed. He was last seen in 2002 near the Park’s Sala Gate on the Eastern Boundary, and since then has not been back to the Voi Stockades. That said, it is unlikely that any of the current Elephant Keepers working with the present day orphans would even be able to recognise him, since most have been recruited since he left the fold. His rehabilitation back into the wild community can therefore be said to be successful and complete – in other words, Mission Accomplished, and for us, this is a source of satisfaction and pride. In Tsavo our orphans are offered a quality of life in elephant terms for it is the only Park in Kenya that has the space an elephant needs for that quality of life.
Important Note: Thank you for considering an adoption. Each orphan needs more than one foster parent: your adoption donation will be processed by the SWT UK and Kenya to help all the orphans in our care.
Important Note: Thank you for considering an adoption. Each orphan needs more than one foster parent: your adoption donation will be processed by the SWT UK and Kenya to help all the orphans in our care.
Current Age
36 years old
Gender
Male
Rescued date
2 March 1987
Rescue Location
Samburu, Maralal National Park
Date of Birth (approximate)
1 February 1987
Reason Orphaned
Poaching
Age at Rescue
0 months old (approx)
Current Location
Living Wild
Personalised adoption certificate.
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Monthly watercolour by Angela Sheldrick.
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