Ndotto’s story began high in the Ndoto Mountains of northern Kenya. One morning, Samburu herdsmen were surprised to find a tiny, newborn elephant mixed amongst their sheep and goats. It seemed that his mother had abandoned him in a panic.

The calf had been born earlier that day, as the herdsmen later came across fetal matter. By this time, no elephants could be found in the area. Aware that he had no chance of survival on his own, they guided the baby back to their ‘boma’ (homestead). It was slow going, as the calf’s legs were weak, wobbly, and still learning how to walk. Incredibly, the calf followed his rescuers, certain they were his family and too young to know any better.

As darkness closed in, the community let the little orphan stay close to their cattle for company during the night. They knew that the calf needed help — and quickly — but the Ndoto Mountains are a truly remote area. Without roads, electricity, or any mode of communication, delivering the message in person was the only option.

The following morning, one of the herdsmen set off to find a community ranger from Milgis Trust. This was no small feat, entailing a long scramble down the mountainside. After walking for many hours, he finally found the ranger by midday. It is because of his determination that Ndotto is alive today.

Then, Ndotto’s next hero stepped in. The Milgis Trust ranger got in touch with us and we immediately organised a rescue. Meanwhile, he quite literally ran up the mountain to find the orphan. He took the calf into his care, bringing him inside the safety of the boma, swaddling him in blankets, and ensuring he was fed nothing except rehydration salts, biding time until he could receive the special milk formula needed for his survival.

At sunrise on 7th August, a helicopter flew high into the mountains to pick up its precious cargo. Our Keepers have decades of experience rescuing orphaned elephants, but even the most seasoned among them were shocked by the tiny elephant they were confronted with. He couldn’t have weighed more than 40 kilograms — a far cry from the 100 kilograms a typical newborn elephant weighs.

Likely born premature, Ndotto’s umbilical cord was still attached; his ears and feet, soft and petal pink. We never shy away from a challenge, but we knew that such a young elephant presented a formidable challenge. His early months were fraught, as any neonate’s are — but incredibly, Ndotto prevailed.

Even as a tiny mite, Ndotto has always been a larger-than-life character. While he grew incrementally in size, his personality expanded by leaps and bounds. In 2018, after nearly four years at the Nursery, he graduated to our Voi Reintegration Unit in Tsavo East National Park.

Fast forward ten years, and Ndotto is now a big boy with an outsized personality to match. He is incredibly social and relishes being with his friends. If he spots that someone is lagging behind, he will run back to collect them; he eagerly shares his greens with everyone, just happy to be in their company. He dotes on his Keepers and constantly checks in on them throughout the day. Ndotto has a lot of love to give, and he gives it unreservedly.

As is typical of orphans rescued at a very young age, Ndotto is taking his reintegration journey step by tentative step. Earlier this year, he started experimenting with nights away from the stockades, but that phase was short-lived. We know that he will reclaim his place in the wild when he is ready. In the meantime, it is a privilege to be part of this special elephant’s life.