In 1977, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was formed in memory of conservationist David Sheldrick, founder and warden of Kenya’s largest protected wildlife sanctuary, Tsavo National Park.
In the nearly 50 years since, the organization has been a pioneer in rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals. Although the nonprofit has a menagerie of giraffes, zebras, water buffalo, and more across its various sanctuaries throughout Kenya, its conservationists specialize in a beloved endangered species: African elephants.
In June of 2023, a local tour guide reported the sighting of a possible orphaned elephant in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Rangers estimated that she was just seven months old — which is far too young for a calf to be on her own.
“When the report came in, our Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit were attending to a speared hippo,” the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust stated on its website. “As soon as that treatment was complete, they turned their attention to the possible orphan.”
But when rangers went looking for her in the bush, she had “evaporated” into the wilderness.
“Everyone hoped that she had reunited with her herd,” the organization recounted. “Sadly, that was not to be.”
On June 26, a few days later, the calf reappeared in the Talek area of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. But this time, she was trailing behind an older male elephant for protection.
It is not uncommon for a young elephant who has been separated from its mother to follow older bulls for safety, lest they be picked off by a pack of hyenas or lions.
“The beginning of Talek’s story remains a mystery, but we know that this resourceful, brave little girl did her very best to fend for herself in the vast Mara landscape before being rescued,” the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust said.
“While the bull could give her companionship and protection, he could not give her the milk a calf of her age requires,” the post continued. “Now, absolutely certain that she was an orphan, the County Warden and Kenya Wildlife Service greenlit a rescue.”
The calf was gently separated from her “adoptive” father and airlifted to the organization’s nursery in Nairobi. There, they named her Talek, after the region where she was discovered.
“Talek settled right into nursery life,” the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust wrote. “After a few days of regular milk feeds, her cheeks filled out, and her belly returned to its round splendor. She quickly became a firm favorite among all the older girls.”
“However, Talek’s keepers remark that she is an ‘independent girl’, with little interest in being cosseted and coddled.”
A few short weeks after Talek settled in at the nursery, another orphaned elephant named Pardamat arrived. Pardamat had been rescued from Mara as well, after a harrowing 3-week search.
“She and her nighttime neighbor, Pardamat … have a classic little sibling relationship,” the organization said. “One minute, they are best friends, the next, they are squabbling over the slightest infraction!”
Today, Talek is three years old. Within the next year, she will begin weaning off her milk and spend more time outside the nursery in the forest, with the other orphans who have “graduated” from the sanctuary and found peace in the surrounding nature reserve — a collective herd that often returns to greet their former keepers.
“We are very grateful for Talek’s ‘guardian bull,’ who looked after her with such gentleness,” the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust said. “Now, her keepers have taken over, giving her round-the-clock care and nurturing for as long as she needs it.”
“Talek is absolutely hooked on her new ‘parents.’ If the keepers are standing in a group, she plants herself right in their midst,” it continued. “This once-lonely little girl will spend the rest of her life surrounded by love.”
You may also like: This herd of rescue elephants 'adopted' a new little brother: 'He will never be alone again'
Featured Image: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
