Lessons of kinship from the keepers for orphan elephants of Kenya
Human caregivers also learn from animal interaction about empathy with all life forms, writes NOLOYISO MTEMBU
THE world is enough for humans and wildlife to coexist, but human greed and desire to plunder not only cause suffering to the animals but also deprive the human race of valuable lessons they could learn from their fellow earth dwellers.
These are the words of an elephant keeper whose years of working with orphaned elephants at the David Sherlock Wildlife Trust Orphans Project and witnessing their plight, has shaped his outlook.
Julius Shivegha has been a keeper for 10 years. During this time, he has rescued and looked after numerous elephant orphans, many of whose mothers were killed by ivory poachers. He has seen elephants being released into the wild and has welcomed some of them back when they visited the project’s rehabilitation centres, either to seek help after injury or to show off a new calf.
“They sometimes come back home just to let us know they are doing fine in the wild,” he said.
Last week there were 33 orphans at the project, and he introduced each calf to an audience of tourists and journalists at the Nairobi National Park. He described how the animals were rescued, their estimated age, and the circumstances under which each became an orphan.
“On my right hand side is Ngilayi, nine months old. He was rescued at about two weeks old all by himself after falling into a water hole,” Shivegha said.
It’s just one of many sad announcements that paint a grim picture, highlighting not only the reality of the adage “survival of the fittest”, but also the often unnecessary suffering of these gentle giants.
Another calf walks with a limp after being rescued from a hunter’s trap a few months ago. Shivegha said the young animal was probably left without food or water for days because his family could not free him from the trap.
Another calf, whose mother died of natural causes, was found almost dying after being attacked by hyenas in the wild.
The calf was severely injured and had to undergo surgery to survive.
The majority of the calves were left defenceless when poachers attacked and killed not only their mothers but many other adult elephants in their family, said Shivegha. “Elephants live in herds. When poachers attack the herd only the baby elephants live, the entire family gets killed.”
Elephants start developing tusks at about the age of three years. At that same age they gradually increase their vegetation diet, otherwise depending on their mothers for milk.
“Without their mother’s milk and protection of the herd, baby elephants are vulnerable,” Shivegha explained.
Once rescued from the wild, the calves are housed in stables at the project nursery, based at the Nairobi National Park, where they receive medical and emotional care from dedicated keepers.
“The keepers share the stable with the elephants so they can give them the assurance they need,” Shivegha said, adding that just like human babies, baby elephants require affection and care to survive. “They do not take cow’s milk, so we feed them baby formula called SMA Gold,” he said, adding: “They are just like human babies.”
At feeding time last week, calves could be seen jostling their way towards their keepers to get their milk bottles, while the older ones held their own bottles with their trunks.
“When they are released into the wild, they form orphan families and they stay together,” Shivegha said.
The animals were not tracked with devices, but instinctively returned to the keepers when they gave birth or needed medical attention.
“I have learnt a lot from these animals, they have taught me the importance of family,” Shivegha said.
● The visit took place during a Google-sponsored expedition to Nairobi, Kenya #GoogleInNairobi*
WALKIES: During the day, baby elephants take a walk with their keepers for some exposure to the wild and to enjoy a mud bath. At night, they sleep on straw in stables which they share with their keepers. The keepers rotate to prevent an animal becoming dependent on individuals.
JUST BABIES: The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphans Project looks after 33 baby elephants in the Nairobi National Park. The orphans lost their mothers mostly, to poaching.