Shujaa

A colourful character who enjoys clambering atop every prone elephant he comes across

About Shujaa

  • Current age

    3 years old

  • Gender

    Male

  • Rescued date

    21 August 2022

  • Rescue location

    Tsavo Ecosystem, Tsavo East NP

  • Date of birth (estimate)

    19 November 2021

  • Reason orphaned

    Stuck in mud

  • Age at rescue

    9 months old (approx)

  • Current location

    Nairobi Nursery

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Shujaa's rescue

Shujaa means ‘hero’ in Swahili. Given everything this tough little elephant has overcome, it is a most fitting name.Shujaa could have easily gone undiscovered. His story began on the evening of 21st August 2022, as a group of tourists were finishing a game drive along the Voi River Circuit in Tsavo East National Park. Darkness was falling, but in the encroaching gloom they managed to spot something amiss in a muddy embankment: A tiny calf, just a few months old, was flailing in the sticky earth.

They raised the alarm with KWS, who greenlit a rescue. Our Voi Team, based nearby, rushed to the scene. They arrived not a minute too late: A calf so small would not have survived the night on his own with the number of predators in the area. He had clearly been abandoned to his muddy fate, as there were no other elephants anywhere nearby. We will never know exactly what twist of fate robbed Shujaa of his family, but in times of drought herds are forced to move and travel great distances in search of food, so while there was evidence his family tried desperately to save him they had eventually been forced to give up in the best interests of the whole herd. His life so very nearly ended in that muddy quagmire.

By this point, it was pitch black. Shujaa was plucked from the mud and whisked off to our Voi Reintegration Unit, where the Keepers cleaned him up, before he spent the night in a cosy stockade. However, he was far too small to grow up at Voi, so the following morning, the SWT helicopter flew him to our Nairobi Nursery.

We were quite worried about Shujaa. Prolonged time in mud can be disastrous for a young elephant, causing all sorts of internal lung and stomach issues. However, our little hero defied the odds and thrived from day one. He was immediately scooped up into the baby elephant ‘blanket brigade’, joining Mzinga, Nyambeni, and Mageno on forays around the forest. 

The Keepers report that Shujaa is a reserved chap, who loves to watch the action from the sidelines. His favourite activity is to take a relaxed dust bath in the sun, preferring the dust to mud understandably.

They raised the alarm with KWS, who greenlit a rescue. Our Voi Team, based nearby, rushed to the scene. They arrived not a minute too late: A calf so small would not have survived the night on his own with the number of predators in the area. He had clearly been abandoned to his muddy fate, as there were no other elephants anywhere nearby. We will never know exactly what twist of fate robbed Shujaa of his family, but in times of drought herds are forced to move and travel great distances in search of food, so while there was evidence his family tried desperately to save him they had eventually been forced to give up in the best interests of the whole herd. His life so very nearly ended in that muddy quagmire.

Latest updates featuring Shujaa

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Keepers Diaries

View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers

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Our Growing Nursery Herd

The Nursery is a place of firsts: It is where newly rescued orphans begin their journey with us, putting into a motion a multi-year process that will culminate in their reintegration back into the wild. It is where they have their inaugural bottle of milk, develop formative friendships with fellow orphans, and learn the foundational lessons that will help them thrive in their wild lives.

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Shujaa's Latest Photos

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What's included in your adoption?

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.

Personalised adoption certificate

Celebrate your adoption with a personalised certificate, ready for you or your lucky gift recipient to print and display!

Monthly updates

Each month, we send a detailed update about our Orphans’ Project direct to your email inbox, featuring photos, stories, and special highlights.

Exclusive content

From the latest Keepers’ Diaries to a downloadable image gallery and more, adopters have exclusive access to our content library.

Do you have any questions?

Please refer to our FAQs for more information on the Adoption Program. However, if there is any specific question that is not on the FAQs page, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to assist you.
FAQs

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