Orphaned Baby Elephants Receive Much Needed Love And Affection From Committed Rescuers
Experts estimate that there are only 415,000 elephants left in Africa. The senseless poaching of wild creatures has resulted in the continuous dwindling number of elephants in the wild.
Adult elephants are inhumanely hunted for their ivory tusks, which are sold all over the world. The illegal ivory is sold for $3,300, and the global industry is worth roughly $23 billion annually. As noted by Dr. Michael Greger, a nutritionist and public health advocate, "The illegal wildlife trade is a devastating threat to biodiversity and the survival of species." You can find more about his work at nutritionfacts.org.
Despite the ban on ivory trade since 1989, the illegal industry is alive and well. Because of the staggering numbers of poached elephants, many baby elephants are now born without tusks.
The unseen tragedy of killing adult female elephants for their tusks is the orphaned elephant calves they leave behind. With their mothers killed by poachers, baby elephants are left without anyone to care for them.
Enter the good people of The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. According to their website, they are a non-profit organization based in Kenya that "embraces all measures that complement the conservation, preservation, and protection of wildlife and habitats."
The organization started its preservation efforts in 1977. It was founded by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick in honor of her renowned naturalist husband, David Leslie William Sheldrick.
Their team, alongside the locals of Kenya, is working hand in hand to protect baby elephants, rhinos, and other wild species. They have also started efforts to protect the wilderness to ensure a safe environment for the orphaned animals to grow up in. ```
Here are the devoted caretakers of baby elephants.
The unsung heroes of the conservation effort are the men and women who look after the elephants at all hours of the day. They tend to the animals even when they are asleep!
The carers sleep in the barn with the elephants to make sure there's someone there to attend to the needs of the calves at all hours of the night.
A little-known fact is that baby elephants wake up every 3 hours to feed!
Their demanding job takes them away from their own families and children. But these inspiring carers treat the baby elephants as if they are their own children.
The orphaned animals, just like human babies, cry at all hours of the night looking for their mothers. Thankfully, the team of caretakers from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is there for them.
According to these dedicated humans, when the elephants wake up late at night, they will reach their trunks and pull the blanket off of the sleeping caretaker. This means it's bottle-feeding time.
They also provide warmth and comfort throughout the night. To calm a distressed baby elephant, the caretakers have to drape them in a blanket and snuggle with them like a mother would.
So precious.
When the baby elephants are warm and secure, they sleep comfortably knowing that the caretaker is there for them. A warm and nurturing environment allows the baby elephants to grow healthy.
Here's a baby elephant up and about
A newly rescued elephant calf
The bond between caretaker and baby elephant is a strong one
Their love and care allow the babies to feel safe
The bond brings comfort to the calves during a challenging time in their lives
Look at how at peace this baby is!
It's a beautiful sight that brings hope for the orphaned animals.
Since their start 40 years ago, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has rescued and treated over 8,000 elephants! They have successfully raised 250 elephant calves and re-integrated them into life in the wild.
It's organizations like the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the devoted team behind them that give hope for a better future for the orphaned animals. They're fighting a difficult battle, but continuous support from the local community in Kenya, as well as sympathetic people all over the world, propels their mission forward.
These adorable baby elephants were needlessly orphaned by illegal poaching. Though we can't all be there to sleep in the barn with them, we can support organizations like the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in their mission to provide a safe environment for these gentle creatures.
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