Back in 1991, I had the great fortune of taking a trip of a lifetime to Kenya. This experience lives on in my memory, all these years later, as the best travel adventure I’ve ever been on.
Along with my week’s stay on the Indian Ocean south of Mombasa, and a week spent on safari, my trip to Kenya also included a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) just outside of Nairobi. Daphne Sheldrick created this Wildlife Trust in memory of her husband, David, who passed away in 1977. Daphne Sheldrick herself passed away in April of 2018. Here’s a link to a preview of a CNN documentary of Daphne Sheldrick’s life.
I had been made aware of this wildlife orphanage before my trip and I knew that I must include it as a stop during my visit. And, it didn’t disappoint. The photo I share in this post is one I took myself during this visit. Looking at it now brings back many wonderful memories of my trip to Kenya.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust does wonderful work for animals that would otherwise not have a chance of surviving. In fact, it took many years for the Trust to perfect the formula they give to baby elephants, and I imagine the same holds true for the other species that end up there. While animals become orphans for many reasons, poaching for ivory and rhino horns is the predominant cause; anti-poaching is one of the many initiatives of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Today, in addition to the orphanage, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust consists of three rehabilitation centres where elephants can remain for up to 10 years before being introduced back to the wild, nine anti-poaching units, an orphan search and rescue aerial surveillance unit which also provides veterinary intervention for wildlife in need, and four mobile vet units. Additionally, DSWT supports the Kenya Wildlife Service and its many initiatives, including Sky Vets.
I’m keeping this post short because I would love it if you spent some time perusing the orphans that are in need of our assistance. Orphans are named after the region in which they are found and a few years ago I fostered a baby elephant named Embu, because Embu has special meaning for me since I travelled there to visit with my foster child and her family while I was in Kenya.
There are many ways to give to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust—adopting is one and your donation provides much needed help and support for any of the animals in the care of the Trust. I invite you to check out their website and also follow their stories on their Facebook page.
Click here for a direct link to the adoption program. This makes a great gift for children, as they will be sent a personalized adoption certificate, a monthly email update of the orphan and the project, and more.
Please consider giving to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and if you ever have the opportunity to travel to Kenya, be sure to visit the sanctuary. You won’t be disappointed.