Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Hello, we are the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. For more than 40 years, our home has been in the beautiful country of Kenya, where we work every day to protect Africa's incredible wildlife. Our story began in 1977 when a remarkable woman named Dame Daphne Sheldrick decided to create an organization to honor the life and work of her husband, David Sheldrick. David was a famous and respected park warden who dedicated his life to protecting Kenya’s natural spaces and the animals that lived there. When he passed away, Daphne wanted to continue his important work. From that promise, we were born.

Our main goal has always been to rescue and care for wild animals who need our help, especially baby elephants and rhinos. These young animals sometimes become orphans, meaning they have lost their mothers and cannot survive in the wild alone. We give them a second chance at life. We are their hope, their protectors, and their family until they are ready to be wild again.

Our most well-known work is called the Orphans' Project. Imagine a tiny baby elephant, lost and alone. When an orphan like this is found, our rescue teams carefully bring it to our special nursery, located in Kenya's capital city, Nairobi. Here, the real work of healing begins. The orphans receive a special milk formula that is easy for them to digest. This formula was invented by our founder, Daphne, after many years of research and care. It was a groundbreaking achievement that made it possible to raise the youngest and most fragile elephant calves.

But the orphans need more than just the right food. They need love and a sense of family. That’s where our keepers come in. Our dedicated keepers stay with the baby elephants 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They feed them, play with them, and even sleep in the stables with them at night to offer comfort. They become the elephants’ new family, providing the constant reassurance and affection that a mother elephant would give. They guide the young elephants until they are strong, healthy, and full of confidence.

While we are famous for our elephant nursery, our work to protect wildlife is much bigger. We have brave Anti-Poaching Teams who patrol Kenya's vast national parks. These teams work to stop illegal hunting, known as poaching, which is a major threat to elephants and other animals. They are the guardians of the wilderness, working to keep wild animals safe in their natural homes. We also operate Mobile Veterinary Units. You can think of these as animal ambulances. Our vets travel all across the country in special vehicles to help any wild animal that is sick or has been injured. They bring expert medical care directly to the animals, wherever they are.

Our work also involves people. We believe that for wildlife to thrive, the local communities who live alongside these animals must be involved. We work with villages and schools, teaching people about the importance of conservation and helping them find ways to live peacefully with their wild neighbors. By working together, we can create a safer world for both humans and animals.

Our goal for every single orphan we raise is to see them return to the wild where they belong. This final chapter of their journey with us is called reintegration. When the elephants are old enough, they leave the Nairobi nursery and travel to one of our reintegration units in Tsavo National Park. Here, the world opens up for them. Guided by their keepers, they spend their days exploring the wilderness, learning how to find food, and interacting with wild elephant herds. This is a very slow and careful process that can take many years. We never rush them. Eventually, the day comes when an orphan feels ready and chooses to join a wild herd, starting a new life as a truly wild elephant. It is a moment of great success for us.

Today, our mission continues under the leadership of Daphne’s daughter, Angela Sheldrick. The promise made so many years ago is still at the heart of everything we do. We continue to rescue and raise orphans, protect wild habitats from harm, and provide care for any wild creature in need. Every single elephant we successfully raise and return to the wild is a victory for conservation. Our work is a promise to David, to Daphne, and to the world that we will never stop fighting for the future of Africa's wildlife and the beautiful wild spaces they call home.