We received a call from Northern Rangelands Trust on the 14th of September about a young calf that was left alone in Kitich Forest Camp. The camp is located in a distant valley with a beautiful view of the Mathews Range. The calf was estimated to be around one and a half years old, as he was small in size and had tiny tusks.
We don’t know much about what happened to him before this moment, but it’s possible that he became too feeble to stay with his group or maybe his mother was a victim of the unfortunate human-wildlife conflict that often occurs during times of drought.
A calf from Kitich Camp was transported to our Nairobi Nursery via a chartered helicopter due to its remote northern location. The elephant greeted the Keepers in a tired and weakened state, which raised concerns about its chances of survival. It’s worrying when a calf appears to have given up, as their will to live can impact their recovery process. However, we’ve successfully rehabilitated many elephants before, including those who lacked the strength to fight for themselves.
1 / 5
We decided to give the newborn calf a name that would always remind us of his place of origin – Kitich. When he was brought to our Nursery, he was extremely frail and weak. From our experience with animals affected by drought, we have come to know that their condition tends to worsen before showing any signs of improvement.
A few days prior to Kitich’s arrival, we had the pleasure of rescuing two remarkable elephant girls – Weka from Tsavo East National Park and Muwingu from Laikipia. They are also victims of the current drought situation, just like Kitich. These lovely ladies have formed a strong bond and are inseparable. During their vulnerable first few weeks with us, their friendship proved to be a source of strength. Weka and Muwingu are known to be a little more spirited than Kitich, so they provided him with some much-needed encouragement. With round-the-clock care from our dedicated team of Keepers, Kitich was able to pull through with the support of his new friends.
Kitich, Weka, and Muwingu enjoy each other’s company as they spend their days peacefully browsing and watching the Nursery herd’s activity from a distance. It’s heartwarming to witness the bond between them and how much solace they provide for each other. But this is only the start of Kitich’s tale – in the few weeks since he arrived, he has made incredible strides. We’re confident that he will continue to thrive in the years ahead.
