It started, as it so often does, with a routine aerial patrol. Our fixed-wing pilot was flying along the Tiva River when he spotted a little elephant near Wamata, in the northern sector of Tsavo East National Park. She was alone and visibly forlorn, partially shrouded in the riverine forest.
To Neville, who has spotted many orphaned elephants in his time, the lack of a mother or family unit nearby was conspicuous. He radioed the sighting into our Kaluku Field Headquarters, then conducted an extensive aerial scan for any elephants in the vicinity. Sadly, the search came up empty — the little calf was utterly alone.
The nearest SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Team mobilised to the site. While the rangers made their way over, Neville continued monitoring the calf and took photographs for closer inspection. These revealed that she was in very poor condition and had clearly been on her own for some time. Based on her graunched physical appearance and the lack of any other elephants in the area, KWS concluded that she was in need of rescuing.
Fortunately, the SWT helicopter had just wrapped up a separate operation and was in the area. It conducted another aerial sweep for any family groups, which again came up empty. While we cannot say how she came to be orphaned, it is possible that she was left behind in the dry season or perhaps something happened to her mother. Now, it was time to bring the little orphan to safety.
The ground teams approached the calf on foot. Given her weakened state, she didn’t put up much resistance. They loaded her onto a stretcher and carried her to the helicopter, which whisked her up to our Nairobi Nursery.
In Nairobi, the little orphan was greeted by a team of men in green. The Keepers showed her into her new stable, which was stocked with freshly cut branches and soft hay. She spent her first night with us surrounded by the comforting rumbles of the other orphans. We named her Wamata, to forever connect her to her origins.
Wamata came to us very weak and introverted. She needed time to recover, physically and emotionally — but given how withdrawn she was, Angela felt that the company of the other orphans would be the best possible balm.
Just a few days after her arrival, Wamata was shepherded out with a very special mini herd: Kerrio, Nyambeni, Mzinga, Taroha, and Olomunyak. The girls and boys stuck to her like glue, showing her the ropes and, more importantly, showing her that she was now part of their family.
Now, Wamata really is one of the gang. While she remains very shy, she has visibly relaxed in her new home. She enjoys the care and protection of Mushuru, Sileita, Muwingu, and Muridjo, although all the females are eager to have their moment with her. She also loves her Keepers and is particularly fond of suckling on their fingers.
Interestingly, Wamata is more focused on eating vegetation than drinking milk. When the other orphans are greedily guzzling down their bottles, you can find Wamata delicately plucking the best leaves and shoots. Before her rescue, she kept herself alive for as long as she did by eating greens — an impressive feat for a young, milk-dependent calf — and she still has a scarcity mindset, despite the bounty of food we provide her with.
One of Wamata’s favourite activities is wallowing. This is where her personality really shines. If she comes across a patch of mud in the forest, she cannot resist sliding in with a great splash and spraying herself — and anyone in the vicinity — with trunkfuls of goopy earth. The lonely, frightened elephant we rescued just a few weeks ago has once more found her place in the world.
