Has fully embraced his wild life in Tsavo East National Park
Current age
5 years old
Gender
Male
Rescued date
4 July 2022
Rescue location
Samburu, Buffalo Springs
Date of birth (estimate)
1 July 2019
Reason orphaned
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Age at rescue
3 years old (approx)
Current location
Living Wild
On the morning of 4th July 2022, guests at Ashnil Samburu Camp awoke to a concerning sight: Emerging for breakfast, they were greeted by a lone baby elephant standing just outside their tent! Hoping his mother was nearby, staff left him alone. Several hours passed, however, and the calf continued to stand vigil outside the camp, plaintively staring at anyone who passed by. It was later confirmed that the calf’s mother had been killed — yet another victim of human-wildlife conflict fuelled by the drought.
Across much of Kenya, 2022 has been blighted by drought. Samburu, in the north of the country, is experiencing its worst effects. What began as a prolonged dry season settled into a full-blown drought by mid-year, putting enormous strain on all who call Samburu home. As food and water become increasingly scarce, human-wildlife has intensified. Tragically, these altercations often end in fatal outcomes.
Lactating female elephants are particularly susceptible to human-wildlife conflict. If their baby is to survive, they must consume enough to both sustain themselves and fuel their milk supply. Left with little other option, they seek sustenance outside protected areas, which puts their lives at risk.
Such was the fate of Rafiki’s mother. Although he was on the larger side, Rafiki was still young enough to be highly vulnerable, particularly in the fraught drought conditions he now had to navigate on his own. Left untended, he would likely meet his mother’s tragic end. KWS contacted us to mount a rescue, and we mobilised an operation to take place the following morning led by KWS Vet Doctor Ngoroge.
In the meantime, Ashnil Samburu Camp staff plied the little calf with cut vegetation as he hovered around their camp . He was very gentle, happily remaining around the humans who showed him such kindness. When the midday sun got too hot, he retreated to the shade of a nearby tree. Come evening, he returned to his post outside the camp, interacting closely with the staff.
When our Keepers arrived, they were met by a remarkably friendly calf. Typically, orphans whose mothers were killed by humans are wary and distrustful. Rafiki had no such reservations. He was an elephant visibly relieved to be rescued and embraced his new Keepers with an open heart.
Rafiki arrived at the Nursery incredibly friendly and tame. He was riddled with worms which is often the case in an area heavy with livestock, but several weeks of specialised care worked its magic. We managed to eradicate the parasites and watched our boy blossom, his condition improving with each passing day.
Although he loves his human family unreservedly, Rafiki is quite shy around the other orphans. He tends to keep to himself, although he will happily stand close to his Keepers and share a cuddle with them. With time, we feel sure that he will continue to come out of his shell.
We have rescued many, many orphans over the years. Among all of them, Rafiki stands out as one of the friendliest towards his rescuers from the outset. He knew that he needed help and he sought it out. We feel very fortunate to call this brave little bull our rafiki — our friend.
On the morning of 4th July 2022, guests at Ashnil Samburu Camp awoke to a concerning sight: Emerging for breakfast, they were greeted by a lone baby elephant standing just outside their tent! Hoping his mother was nearby, staff left him alone. Several hours passed, however, and the calf continued to stand vigil outside the camp, plaintively staring at anyone who passed by. It was later confirmed that the calf’s mother had been killed — yet another victim of human-wildlife conflict fuelled by the drought.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Given how elephants continue to amaze us, our surprise meeting with Kitiak should really come as little surprise at all: These are creatures that work in mysterious ways. But still, our serendipitous encounter with a long-lost orphan has left us reeling.
By adopting, you play a vital role in the life of an orphaned elephant, rhino, or giraffe — helping us provide the round-the-clock, loving attention each one needs and deserves over many years, so they can ultimately reclaim their place in the wild.
Your adoption supports the 100+ orphans in our care at any given time, covering the cost of milk and food supplies, Keepers' salaries, veterinary treatment, and other essentials.
Celebrate your adoption with a personalised certificate, ready for you or your lucky gift recipient to print and display!
Each month, we send a detailed update about our Orphans’ Project direct to your email inbox, featuring photos, stories, and special highlights.
From the latest Keepers’ Diaries to a downloadable image gallery and more, adopters have exclusive access to our content library.