Come take a peek behind the scenes of the Nairobi Nursery, the crucial starting point for orphaned elephants on their journey back to the wild. This nursery is where young calves, devastated by loss, find a new family and hope for the future. Interestingly, the establishment of this orphanage was not premeditated, but rather happened spontaneously after the founding of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in 1977 in honor of David Sheldrick. The elephants essentially found us! Over the years, Daphne Sheldrick helped raise numerous orphaned elephant calves who were brought to the nearby Nairobi park headquarters. With her extensive experience raising elephant orphans and her husband’s role as the founding warden of Tsavo East National Park, she was perfect for the job. However, off-site care proved challenging due to the immense oversight needed during the infancy stage, including milk feedings every three hours. In 1986, when yet another orphan was rescued, Daphne requested that he be raised at her home in the Nairobi National Park.
The Nairobi Park is a stunning combination of open plains and forest areas. It has been the home of our elephant Nursery for many years now, starting from when a young elephant named Olmeg found refuge in Daphne’s home back in 1977. This unique park is located so close to the capital city, making it an ideal location for our Nursery. As more and more rescued elephants arrived at the Park, we had to expand and adapt to meet their growing needs. Today, after over 40 years of development, the Nursery has evolved into a sanctuary that can accommodate up to 36 elephant calves at a time, providing a safe haven for orphans of all sizes.
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At the Nursery, the day starts bright and early. Before sunrise, the place is already bustling with activity. The staff is busy preparing milk and tea for everyone. As the orphaned elephants begin to wake up in their sleeping quarters, some of them impatiently pull at their Keeper’s blanket. Once they realize that their neighbors are also awake, the Nursery echoes with trumpets and rumbles.
The team works hard and rises early, preparing both elephant and human breakfast. While the cooks make tea and chapatis, a group of semi-tame warthogs wait eagerly outside for handouts. The mixers are responsible for creating a new batch of milk for each baby elephant every three hours, which is a 24-hour job that the Keepers rotate. In the morning, the mixer and an assistant deliver two bottles of milk to each stable, placed in buckets hanging outside. The babies enjoy specific formulas tailored to their individual needs, which they consume eagerly.
At 9.00 am, the elephants are given their milk feed no matter where they happen to be.
The ‘Everhopefulls’ refers to a group of energetic warthogs that have discovered the benefits of spending time with elephants and their caretakers. Once the morning feeding is complete, the day officially begins. The youngest orphans are the first to emerge from their stables, wrapped in colorful blankets to protect them from the morning chill. Some of the orphans need encouragement to come out, especially on rainy or cold days, while others eagerly await the chance to reunite with their friends. Typically, everyone gathers near Maxwell’s gate where they interact with the rhino by stroking him with their trunks or engaging in playful races along the fence line of his enclosure.
Maxwell, the black rhino who is blind, has become a permanent resident of the Nursery. To ensure the comfort of all the animals, fresh hay is laid every day in their stables. The baby elephants are taken out into the Nairobi National Park each morning to provide them with constant stimulation. The Keepers guide them towards lush greens or sparkling springs, but sometimes one of the orphans takes the lead and chooses their own route. The Nursery is situated in a forested area of the park that opens up to vast plains scattered with acacia trees and rivers. During the rainy season, there are muddy patches that provide the perfect opportunity for wallowing. However, the dense undergrowth can make it challenging for the Keepers to keep sight of all the little elephants, as there are potential dangers that lurk deeper in the park if they were to wander too far. The safety of the young elephants is the top priority of the Keepers.
At our Nursery, an amazing connection is formed between the tiny infants and the caretakers who rescue and care for them, based on affection and reliance.
The orphaned elephants are closely monitored by their Keepers as they spend their days exploring the vast Park. These majestic creatures spend most of their time browsing for food, despite being provided with ample nutrition through milk bottles and freshly cut greens. Their innate nature drives them to seek out delicious roots and shoots in the forest, which they expertly strip off branches or forage for in the undergrowth. The Keepers provide guidance to the newbies on the best plants to eat, as there is a learning curve to this art form.
While every day brings new experiences, the 11 o’clock mud bath and milk feeding is a constant. To keep things organized, the orphans are brought down in small groups to avoid chaos. The elephants eagerly rush in, propelled by the promise of milk. Some of the more enterprising ones even investigate the wheelbarrow holding the empty bottles, hoping to snag any leftovers.
Playing in the mud and rolling around in dust is always a never-ending source of amusement.
At noon, the orphans eagerly await their feeding time, which is followed by a delightful hour of mud baths, sunbathing, and splashing around. Watching the orphans engage in robust wrestling matches and spirited games is a treat for observers. As the afternoon gets hotter, the orphans seek shelter under the trees in the nearby forest. The Nursery is situated in the Nairobi National Park, providing the orphans with the opportunity to interact with various wildlife during their daily activities. They encounter giraffes feeding off the acacias, impalas crossing their path, and sometimes even black rhinos. Though lions and leopards keep their distance from the Keepers, the orphans create a stir over even the most harmless wildlife sightings, such as a chameleon falling from the trees. The Park is a home to a diverse range of species.
At around 5 pm, it’s time for the orphans to head back to their rooms for the night. The base team has been working hard to prepare everything for their return, making sure that each room is clean and comfortable. They’ve replaced the hay, cut some fresh greens, and left two warm bottles of milk in each room. Clean blankets are also available, ready to be used by the little elephants.
The orphans know which room belongs to them and quickly go inside, excited to get settled in for the evening. Unlike the Reintegration Units, the Nursery orphans have their own individual sleeping quarters. We understand how delicate baby elephants are and how important it is for them to feel protected while they sleep, just like they would in the wild. That’s why we create cozy, hay-lined spaces for them to rest in.
Each baby elephant has a Keeper who sleeps alongside them, providing company and comfort throughout the night. They also make sure that the babies are fed and taken care of during the night, especially when there’s thunder or rain that can be frightening to the little ones. The Keepers are always there to offer a reassuring cuddle to help calm them down.
Excitedly, the infants make their way to their respective sleeping quarters for the evening.
When we receive new rescues, they often require a lot of attention to survive. These vulnerable babies need constant monitoring during their early weeks with us, which is why we use enclosed stables. However, as the elephants grow older, they become uncomfortable in confined spaces. To accommodate their needs, we also have larger, open stockades where the bigger elephants can sleep under the stars.
As night falls, there’s a peaceful atmosphere in the Nursery. The orphans’ breathing synchronizes with the soothing sounds of the Verreaux’s eagle-owl outside. Eventually, these elephants will roam free under the starry skies of Tsavo. But for now, they rest with the comfort of their surrogate family – the Keepers who will guide them back to the wild.