Now living wild, though he continues to visit us regularly
Current age
11 years old
Gender
Male
Rescued date
3 September 2014
Rescue location
Maasai Mara, Naboisho Conservancy
Date of birth (estimate)
10 September 2013
Reason orphaned
Natural causes
Age at rescue
11 months old (approx)
Current location
Ithumba Reintegration Unit
What made this case particularly challenging is the injured female had a young milk dependent calf of about a year old. She had been observed for a number of days by the scouts on the ground and it appeared she had a severely broken leg and was virtually immobile as a result. The prognosis was bleak.
KWS Veterinary Officer Fred Olianga was flown by the SWT Sky Vet program to the Mara in the company of SWT Keepers just in case the decision was to euthanize, which is what all reports indicated. The decision would not be taken lightly and would be made once on the ground with the mother anesthetised and when the KWS Veterinary Officer and his assistant could examine her thoroughly and make a full diagnosis and decision.
We estimate the baby bull to be approximately 12 months old. Amazingly once at the Nairobi Nursery despite obviously missing his mother terribly he settled fast and began feeding on milk from a bottle the same day. He tamed down quickly thanks to the comfort of Suswa who was right next door, and just two days later he was able to join the other orphans in the bush. Olsekki has enjoyed the balm of the other elephants and the keepers and only time will heal his emotional scars, but little Olsekki (named after the area he came from) is feeling safe in the company of the others.
The reason for his mother’s dramatic fracture remains a mystery.
What made this case particularly challenging is the injured female had a young milk dependent calf of about a year old. She had been observed for a number of days by the scouts on the ground and it appeared she had a severely broken leg and was virtually immobile as a result. The prognosis was bleak.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Our new year started on a special note: On 11th January 2025, our Nursery big boys — Mukutan, Choka, and Loldaiga — graduated to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit, where they will continue their journey back to the wild.
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