Our team was very encouraged to see how proud the Samburu rescuers were of their wildlife, including the little orphan they had just saved and brought to the airfield. They had already given her the name Loijuk, in honour of where they had found her.

A drought victim, Loijuk arrived at the Nursery with a dire case of pneumonia. Her temperature plummeted, liquid leaked out of her lungs, and her trunk became icy cold. Seeking a miracle, we brought the other orphans to her stable, hoping they might galvanise her will to live.

The orphans understood their assignment. They tenderly wrapped their trunks around her, as if urging her to fight her fate. This seemed to be all Loijuk required: Her eyes brightened and we realised there was life in her yet. We count Loijuk among our great successes.

Loijuk graduated to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit in May 2007. She first became a mother in 2019, at the age of 14. As has become a time-honoured tradition among our orphans, Loijuk promptly returned ‘home’ to introduce us to her daughter, who we named Lili.

Although she is an orphan raised by the human hand, Loijuk immediately took to motherhood. Her nurturing compass had led her into a starring role in several of our most miraculous stories:

Loijuk was part of the ex-orphan gang who delivered Toto into our care in April 2022. The girls had clearly found the day-old orphan on his own and, knowing that he desperately needed help, escorted him to our Ithumba stockades. Because of their quick thinking, Toto is thriving in our care today.

In October 2022, when her friend Melia became a first-time mum, Loijuk played a pivotal role. Poor Melia got such a fright when her newborn son dropped to the ground that she ran away. Loijuk and some other females walked over to investigate the baby. Melia stood there helplessly, not quite sure what to do next, so Loijuk stepped in. She helped the calf to his feet and guided him over to Melia’s side, giving her friend the nudge she needed to embrace her new role.

Loijuk’s family grew this year. On 11th April 2024, the dependent orphans were enjoying an ordinary browsing session when Loijuk, Lili (who is now four years old), and a few ex-orphan friends approached. The Keepers quickly realised that her team had a delightful addition: A beautiful, brand new baby, who must have been born the night before! We named her daughter Lisha.

Poignantly, this was purely a social visit, so Loijuk could share her new joy. Ithumba was a veritable jungle at the time, with all the food and water any elephant could possibly want. Loijuk and her team only stopped by briefly, to introduce Lisha to the men who were so instrumental in her mother’s life.

We have been treated to many visits from Loijuk, Lili, and Lisha in the intervening months. Her family is thriving — happy and healthy, as they enjoy their wild lives in Tsavo’s largest national park. Daphne was not alive to meet Lili nor Lisha, but as we remarked when Loijuk first became a mother, ‘It was these moments that Daphne found the most rewarding of all, particularly as the orphans choose to share them with us. The orphans are always so trusting and gracious with their human family, never forgetting the kindness, love, and compassion shown and shared in their time of need.’

Loijuk’s story demonstrates the goal of our Orphans’ Project. By saving one life, we pave the way for generations of elephants.