5pm on the 20th July 2008 brought a call for Kerry Glen of Tumaren Ranch, in Laikipia, that a baby elephant had been seen standing beside a dying mother, with no other elephants around. The mother elephant appeared paralyzed, possibly poisoned but the reason was uncertain.

The decision was made to rescue the calf, since the mother was obviously beyond recovery. Fearing the calf would not survive without its mother, especially with predators prevalent on the ranch, Kerry Glen and Jamie, along with the ranch workers secured the baby. To end her suffering, the mother was later euthanased by KWS. The rescued calf was taken to Kerry and Jamie's home, where Jamie remained near the calf in an adjoining room all night. It was a sleepless and very disturbed ordeal, because the distraught baby, cried all night for her mother, and even tried desperately to climb through a window.

The calf was flown to the Nairobi Nursery on the 21st July 2009 arriving at noon. She was still strong and aggressive (a good sign denoting the will to live and the reserves to make an effort), but she soon calmed down once the other Nursery elephants were brought in to impart hope and encouragement. The other orphans gave her a warm welcome, and immediately she responded, turning into a very affectionate member of the herd, calm and friendly to both her elephant orphan peers and their human family.

We named the new arrival “Tumaren” to denote her origin. She is about 10 months old and becomes the 22nd member of our Nursery herd of mini orphans ever partaking of the mudbath along with the others. An enchanting addition to the group, popular with the other elephants as well as her human admirers.