An orphanage for elephants
Please note: archive - all informations may be out-of-date.
Every semester, the Theologische Stift supports a charity project by promoting it publically and collecting donations.
This time, an orphanage for elephants in Nairobi (Kenya) caught our attention. The project provides animal care and protects the species yet simultaneously fosters the local infrastructure.
Although poaching for ivory and ivory is illegal in most countries, cow elephants are regularly killed in the process. Their calves are left behind; orphans that - just like humans - depend upon their mothers to survive: Their skin is extremely sensitive to the sun. They are easy targets for carnivores, and have trouble finding water and using their trunks properly. Help is offered by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphans Project: The baby elephants receive individual care 24/7 and are fed with special milk formula. Elephants being social animals, they make quick friends among their own at the orphanage and will be later on effectively reintegrated into the wild herds of Tsavo. Some cow elephants have even developed the habit of picking up young elephants from the orphanage to introduce them to life "in the real world". Thus was born an elephant kindergarten! In the past few years, the Wildlife Trust has broadened their work towards the rescue and rehabilitation of other species such as rhinos. Interestingly enough, life-long friendships are formed between the latter and some of the elephants.
The project was founded in the late 80s by Daphne Sheldrick, a Brit ennobled by the queen in the meantime for her service related to the Orphans Project. In Germany, support comes from an association called Rettet die Elefanten Afrikas - one of their work´s key aspects is arranging sponsorships for individual (and darling) elephants!
Both the German association and the orphanage is involved in increasing awareness worldwide for the fate (and hope!) of orphaned elephants, as well as alerting the Kenyan public to the dangers elephants face today - poaching, but also the loss of habitat due to human population pressures and conflict, deforestation, and drought. Additionally, protection initiatives (e.g.in Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda) are fostered. The orphanage itself has become an attractive destination for tourists committed to the cause, and provides new jobs for the local population - even ex-poachers. Thus both animals and people are helped by the Orphans Project.
We would truly appreciate further donations for our project! For more information, feel free to check out the following website:
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/
Karoline Pohl, Translation: Lina Friederike Henze