Now living wild, she remains an integral part of our Umani herd, and a mother of one
Current age
14 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
11 February 2012
Rescue location
Tsavo Ecosystem, Galana Ranch
Date of birth (estimate)
20 April 2011
Reason orphaned
Poaching
Age at rescue
9 months old (approx)
Current location
Umani Springs Reintegration Unit
The Warden and his team monitored the calf all day, having reported its presence to the Senior Warden, Tsavo East National Park, and the Trust’s Field Officer, who alerted the SWT’s Nairobi Headquarters and the elephant Keepers based at our Voi elephant stockades that a rescue was on the cards.
The capture took place on the 11th, the female orphan too weak and lame to put up much resistance. The right hind leg had a huge protrusion on the top joint which appeared to possibly be the result of a previous fracture. Two small scars at the site of swelling indicate that it could be an old arrow or spear wound, leaving the calf walking with a pronounced limp.
It was clear that this was a very lucky little elephant to have been found before a hungry lion, who was roaming the area, made a meal of her, which undoubtedly would have happened had she not been rescued that day.
The Galana Conservancy is the home of the small Waliangulu tribe who are traditional Elephant Hunters, elephants interwoven into their tribal culture in the same way that the spearing of a lion marks the passage to warrior hood for members of the Masaai tribe. It was therefore decided by the Rescue team that the elephant orphan be named “Sonje”, the Mliangulu word for “lame”.
Back at the Nursery the Keepers set about the task of calming little Sonje, who was quite aggressive to begin with, and persuading her to accept milk from a hand-held bottle. This was accomplished by the following morning. She began taking her milk eagerly.
The Warden and his team monitored the calf all day, having reported its presence to the Senior Warden, Tsavo East National Park, and the Trust’s Field Officer, who alerted the SWT’s Nairobi Headquarters and the elephant Keepers based at our Voi elephant stockades that a rescue was on the cards.
The capture took place on the 11th, the female orphan too weak and lame to put up much resistance. The right hind leg had a huge protrusion on the top joint which appeared to possibly be the result of a previous fracture. Two small scars at the site of swelling indicate that it could be an old arrow or spear wound, leaving the calf walking with a pronounced limp.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Our extended elephant family continues to grow! Zongoloni has given birth to a beautiful baby boy — her first calf and our fourth Umani grandchild.
Sulwe is our Christmas morning miracle. In the early hours of Christmas Day, Sonje presented us with the most precious gift: Her first child, a beautiful baby girl. Sulwe means ‘morning star’ in the Luo language. Read more.
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