Sharing the stories of Kenya's most vulnerable orphans and the heroes who rescued them, The Unsung Heroes is the final publication by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, celebrated conservationist and founder of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. It celebrates the ordinary men and women throughout Kenya who exemplify the best of humanity, and have gone out of their way to save and nurture elephants in need.
This beautiful book encapsulates the best of humanity and Kenya, revealing incredible stories from the very beginnings of some of our orphans' journeys, recounted by the men and women who were first moved to save a baby elephant's life. These stories have been a revelation for us too, locating the men and women once more who first found and rescued our orphans before they were safely turned over into the caring hands of our Keepers.
This book with its exceptional photography so lovingly captured by Mia Collis, along with the poignant quotes researched meticulously by Yoyo Volak, showcases the varied and beautiful landscapes and people that make Kenya a firm favorite for so many. But aside from telling these fascinating previously untold stories, captured within the pages is the extraordinarily tender relationships forged between the orphans' as they grow and their Keepers, redefining barriers between the two.
For those who have followed Daphne and David’s lives over many decades, this publication is certainly a definitive collector's piece. I encourage everyone to consider ‘The Unsung Heroes’ as a personal keepsake or a treasured gift, as it was created with so much love and passion, and serves as an important and significant reminder of Daphne's life's work and remarkable legacy.
By Angela Sheldrick