Mweya's Story
A female calf born in January 2001 in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda; estimated age just days old when rescued. Age on arrival in our Nursery - 1 month.
This baby was unique, being Ugandan as opposed to all the other Kenyan orphans we have rescued. She simply wandered into a fishing village near Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park, was thereafter transported across the Channel in a fishing boat and dumped back in the bush, because her rescuers didn't know what else to do! Fortunately, word got out, and she was re-captured by an expatriate who had heard about her, and taken to the Uganda Education Centre, where she was cared for round the clock by expatriate volunteers and two National Park Rangers with telephone instructions from us in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, the ponderous bureaucracy of getting an elephant across a territorial boundary had to be tackled, which involved 6 long weeks. Eventually, however, "Mweya" (named by the Ugandans) arrived on the 27th February 2001 by helicopter.
A female calf born in January 2001 in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda; estimated age just days old when rescued. Age on arrival in our Nursery - 1 month.
This baby was unique, being Ugandan as opposed to all the other Kenyan orphans we have rescued. She simply wandered into a fishing village near Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park, was thereafter transported across the Channel in a fishing boat and dumped back in the bush, because her rescuers didn't know what else to do! Fortunately, word got out, and she was re-captured by an expatriate who had heard about her, and taken to the Uganda Education Centre, where she was cared for round the clock by expatriate volunteers and two National Park Rangers with telephone instructions from us in Nairobi. Meanwhile, the ponderous bureaucracy of getting an elephant across a territorial boundary had to be tackled, which involved 6 long weeks. Eventually, however, "Mweya" (thus named by the Ugandans) arrived on the 27th February 2001 by Helicopter.
Mweya is now an ex-orphan in Tsavo East National Park, and a mother, she visits the Voi stockades every now and then.
Current Age
23 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
27 February 2001
Rescue Location
Uganda, Queen Elizabeth Park
Date of Birth (approximate)
1 January 2001
Reason Orphaned
Man-made cause for separation
Age at Rescue
1 month old (approx)
Current Location
Living Wild
Mweya's featured photos
Our digital adoption programme includes the following:
Personalised adoption certificate.
Monthly email update on your orphan and the project.
Monthly watercolour by Angela Sheldrick.
Access to special content; latest Keepers' Diaries, videos and photos
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Mweya's Calves
Meet Mweya's wild born offspring.
Mwitu is the first wild-born calf of Mweya, born in the height of the dry season. We first met Mwitu on 15th November, when Mweya and Edie - with her new calf Eco - travelled back to our Voi Reintegration Unit after the rains to share their new babies with their human family and the dependent Voi orphan herd. This photo is of Mwitu and Eco on morning of 18th November 2019. Read more
Mojo was Mweya's second baby, following in the footsteps of big sister, Mwitu. He was born in September 2022, at the height of the drought in Tsavo. As a newborn, he made the incredible journey back to Voi, navigating some 100 kilometres of drought-stricken plains. Tragically, on 5th November 2022 Mweya and Mwitu returned to the Voi stockades after a week's absence, without Mojo. A mother would never leave her infant, unless the very worst had happened. Read more
Just 10 days after Mudanda debuted her new baby, Mweya strolled up to the Voi stockades with a tiny girl in tow. We have named ber Mwangaza, which means 'light' in Swahili. Mweya, the consummate matriarch, learned from her past experiences and led her herd 'home' before giving birth, so the mums and newborns could benefit from Voi's support system. Read more.
Latest updates featuring Mweya
Mweya's latest photos
Pika Pika, with Mwitu and Mweya in the morning
Mweya, Kilari, Panda, Naipoki, and Mbirikani
Mweya with Mwitu and Mwangaza
Mweya her babies, Panda, Kihari, Mbirikani,Sagala
Mweya with Mwangaza as she eats lucerne
Sagala, with Mwitu, Mwangaza, and Mweya
Ex orphan Mweya and Mwitu
Mweya and Mwitu enjoying lucerne