Suguroi

Our resident Olympian, this athletic girl loves to compete against her friends

About Suguroi

  • Current age

    5 years old

  • Gender

    Female

  • Rescued date

    23 September 2021

  • Rescue location

    Laikipia, El Karama Ranch

  • Date of birth (estimate)

    1 October 2019

  • Reason orphaned

    Natural causes

  • Age at rescue

    23 months old (approx)

  • Current location

    Ithumba Reintegration Unit

Adopt Suguroi for yourself, or as a gift

Suguroi's rescue

Suguroi is here today because of three strokes of luck. It all began with a fly-by that was never supposed to happen. On the morning of 23rd September 2021, visitors were exploring Laikipia by air when they spontaneously decided to divert from their planned course over El Karama Ranch. Flying over a lugga, they unexpectedly sighted a carcass of a female elephant.In a further stroke of luck, the pilot happened to be Andy Payne, who formerly flew for our Aerial Surveillance Unit, with much experience under his belt he immediately knew this required further exploration. They circled back — and this time, spotted a baby elephant alone. Dwarfed by undergrowth, only a trained eye would have been able to detect her.

Andy reported the calf’s location to Mike Nicholson, who is the owner of El Karama Ranch and also the head of the KWS Airwing. From there, we set about coordinating a rescue with KWS. We needed to absolutely confirm the size of the calf, as when flying up country at high altitudes, weight and size are important considerations. 

And this is when the third stroke of luck took place. Our SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Vet Unit and El Karama rangers arrived on the scene — and not a moment too soon, as lions had been drawn to the scent of her dead mother's carcass. Had they arrived any later, there very well could have been two dead elephants in that lugga. 

The ground team sent through photos, showing the calf was small enough to fit in an aircraft. While the plane flew from Nairobi to El Karama with a team of Keepers onboard, the vet unit immobilised the calf and drove her to the airstrip. The rest of the rescue unfolded in a seamless manner. By late afternoon, we were settling the calf into her new stable at the Nursery.

We named the calf Suguroi, after the lugga where she was found. An autopsy revealed that her mum died of toxemia, due to the wound between her front legs. However, foul play is not suspected; more likely, it was the tragic consequence of a fall. One small silver lining of the situation is that Suguroi had not been without her mother for too long, so she came to us in healthy condition. 

Suguroi is an extremely timid little girl. It was nearly a week before she would accept milk from a bottle. For her first days at the Nursery, she only ventured furtive sips from a pail. She remains very shy, preferring to remain on the fringes as she becomes accustomed to the ways of the Nursery. The other orphans have been enormously helpful in this regard, giving her the space she needs but also making her feel loved. We feel sure this lucky little girl will continue to blossom in the coming weeks, months, and years.

Andy reported the calf’s location to Mike Nicholson, who is the owner of El Karama Ranch and also the head of the KWS Airwing. From there, we set about coordinating a rescue with KWS. We needed to absolutely confirm the size of the calf, as when flying up country at high altitudes, weight and size are important considerations. 

And this is when the third stroke of luck took place. Our SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Vet Unit and El Karama rangers arrived on the scene — and not a moment too soon, as lions had been drawn to the scent of her dead mother's carcass. Had they arrived any later, there very well could have been two dead elephants in that lugga. 

Latest updates featuring Suguroi

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Keepers Diaries

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

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Mageno, Kitich, and Muwingu Graduate to Ithumba

On 9th June 2025, Mageno, Kitich, and Muwingu graduated from the Nursery and moved to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit in Tsavo East National Park, where they will continue their journey back to the wild.

Read more

Suguroi's Latest Photos

Access the most recent photos featuring Suguroi

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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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