Wendi

Now living wild, where she is the mother of an ever-growing family

About Wendi

  • Current age

    22 years old

  • Gender

    Female

  • Rescued date

    18 September 2002

  • Rescue location

    Meru Region, Imenti Forest

  • Date of birth (estimate)

    11 September 2002

  • Reason orphaned

    Human-Wildlife Conflict

  • Age at rescue

    1 week old (approx)

  • Current location

    Living Wild

Adopt Wendi for yourself, or as a gift

Wendi's rescue

She is an Imenti Forest Elephant, and arrived only days old, with a moist umbilical cord, soft black hair on her skin and a tiny short trunk. Being so young, she really had no comprehension yet, other than the fact she needed food and someone bigger to follow and be with.

She was found in a swamp near the all but gone Imenti Forest, all alone, on the morning of 18th September 2002, the rest of the herd having fled, no doubt due to human disturbance. It is likely that her mother was disturbed during childbirth because she was miniscule on arrival with a moist umbilical cord still intact.

We named her "Wendi", which in the Meru tribal dialect means "Hope" and we have named her thus, hoping that CITES makes the decision to hold the ban on the sale of Ivory, which will bring "hope" for the survival of elephants "hope" that the Imenti elephants will one day have a safe corridor to the forests of Mount Kenya and meet up with lost friends from whom they are now isolated by human settlement, and "hope" that the K.W.S. Warden of Meru, who was responsible for such a very efficient rescue, has a career full of "hope" within the Kenya Wildlife Service and above all, "hope" that little "HOPE" will survive.

Rearing a newborn elephant always presents a challenge, and in Wendi’s case an even greater challenge than most because we feel she never had her mother’s colostrum. One ear was bent down the middle, like a folded piece of parchment, and it is possible the little elephant must have been lying like this in the womb. Little "Wendi" was given powdered Colostrum in her first bottles of milk, just in case she had not had the benefit of her mother's first milk containing all the vital antibodies she needed for survival in a harsh world.

Too young to understand the loss of her elephant mother, she faced the future without the psychological trauma that troubles calves orphaned older. A beautiful elephant that can be assured of love and tender loving care from her adopted human family.

Wendi was moved to Ithumba with Taita, Olmalo, Selengai, Tomboi, Napasha, Kinna, Yatta, Nasalot and Mulika in 2004, and remains in a herd with her wild born baby Wiva with some of the females to this day, led by Yatta.

She was found in a swamp near the all but gone Imenti Forest, all alone, on the morning of 18th September 2002, the rest of the herd having fled, no doubt due to human disturbance. It is likely that her mother was disturbed during childbirth because she was miniscule on arrival with a moist umbilical cord still intact.

We named her "Wendi", which in the Meru tribal dialect means "Hope" and we have named her thus, hoping that CITES makes the decision to hold the ban on the sale of Ivory, which will bring "hope" for the survival of elephants "hope" that the Imenti elephants will one day have a safe corridor to the forests of Mount Kenya and meet up with lost friends from whom they are now isolated by human settlement, and "hope" that the K.W.S. Warden of Meru, who was responsible for such a very efficient rescue, has a career full of "hope" within the Kenya Wildlife Service and above all, "hope" that little "HOPE" will survive.

Latest updates featuring Wendi

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Keepers Diaries

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

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Sunyei’s New Baby, Subiri

2025 is already shaping up to be a year like no other. Our ex-orphans have been debuting their wild-born babies in rapid succession. Sunyei — an orphan we have known for more than two decades — brought the latest addition to our extended elephant family.

Read more

Wendi's Latest Photos

Access the most recent photos featuring Wendi

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Wendi's Calves

Wiva

Born to ex-orphan Wendi, this little girl was named Wiva after the weaver birds, who were busy building their nests in the acacia trees at the Ithumba Reintegration Unit on the very same day of Wiva’s birth. Wendi was so trusting of her former Keepers, allowing Head Keeper Benjamin to meet Wiva when she was just days old. Read more

Wema

Wema is Wendi's second wild-born calf, born during the rainy season in Tsavo East National Park. A little girl, she has a protective older sister in the shape of Wiva, Wendi's first calf who was born in 2015, with whom she is pictured here. Read more

Wimbi

Wimbi, Wendi's third daughter, was born on 8th October 2022 at the height of a severe drought. Despite the harsh conditions in Tsavo, she came into the world plump, energetic, and healthy. She will grow up surrounded by a very experienced mum, two older sisters, and a herd's worth of devoted nannies. Read more

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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