Vita's Story

The female calf named "Vita" was found on the Tsavo River not far from the Tsavo bridge that spans the main Mombasa/Nairobi road. She was with another smaller calf, both of whom were in a pitiful condition, emaciated and starved, since both being between 1 and 2 years old were still milk dependent. (No calf orphaned under two years of age can survive without milk, even though at that age, they are eating vegetation.) People from the Chinese road gang reported seeing one of these calves alone, so our Keepers and Isaac Maina, our Orphans Overseer, set forth in the Trust's old "Greens Truck" to see if they could find and rescue what was obviously an orphan.Surprisingly, they found and rescued not one, but two, one of whom was "Vita". Sadly, the smaller calf died soon after arrival at the Stockades in Voi, but Mvita, who was about 14 months old at the time, settled in, and taking a cue from the other resident orphans, was hungrily gulping down milk. After several days being confined in the Stockades, she had tamed down sufficiently to be able to accompany the other orphans out in the bush during the day.

Vita's Story

Adopt Vita for yourself or as a gift.

Adopt Vita for yourself or as a gift.

Current Age

24 years old

Gender

Female

Rescued date

15 August 2001

Rescue Location

Tsavo Ecosystem, Tsavo West NP

Date of Birth (approximate)

1 June 2000

Reason Orphaned

Poaching

Age at Rescue

14 months old (approx)

Current Location

Living Wild

Vita'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

Give Vita the gift of life by adopting today.

Vita's latest photos

Leasanju leads the orphans away, Vita looks on

Vita left, Eve and Sweet Sally

Emily left, Eve and Vita

Vita at the stockade

Emily left, Eve and Vita enjoying some Lucerne

Emily left, Eve, Vita and Sweet Sally

Vita left with Emily and Eve

Vita