On February 25th 2003 at
1.19 am (GMT) I became a new foster parent for a little
4 year old elephant by
the name of Laikipia.
The $50 dollars (approx
£30) that I paid to
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust will go towards the care
and love of this beautiful little elephant and will eventually (given annual
payments and donations) give rise to him being set free into the wild where he
was born in February 1999.
The following is
LAIKIPIA's Orphan Profile.
A male calf estimated to be about 1 year
old on arrival, therefore born February 1999. Another calf from Laikipia
District in the North, orphaned when approximately 1 year old when his mother
died during a very dry season, either from drought, sickness or even as a result
of bullet wounds. Obviously, she had had very little milk for many months,
because the calf was emaciated and skeletal when rescued. He arrived in the
Nairobi Nursery in a pathetic condition in the late afternoon, extremely fearful
of humans, but the input of "Lolokwe" calmed him immediately and within half an
hour he was taking milk from a bottle. Astonishingly, by the next morning he was
part of the Nursery group, out in the bush with the other elephants and their
Keepers as though he had always belonged. However, not surprisingly the sudden
intake of large quantities of milk triggered problems and we wondered whether he
would have the reserves to cope, but he did. He is, indeed, lucky to find
himself in a much safer home and with a much more secure future within a large
protected area. His best friend and sparring partner is another young bull named
"Salama" and these two babies romp happily together all day long.
He is a very gentle and loving little elephant, similar
to Edo in temperament, sociable with all visitors, always eager to suckle a
thumb, wrapping his trunk around a neck for comfort. Laikipia is a very
forgiving little soul when one considers what his relatives have had to endure
in Northern Kenya where poaching has long been, and still is, a serious problem.
Here is the e mail sent to me when I signed up to help
Laikipia
2/24/03 8:12:56 PM
Dear Sami Rowley,
Thank you so much for signing up to our orphans fostering program directly
through our website. We hope you will continue to visit
our website regularly to keep abreast with our work.
Your contribution will truly make a difference to LAIKIPIA's life. We are most
grateful for your financial support, and in so doing
giving the gift of life to an orphaned elephant.
As a foster parent you will be receiving monthly updates on LAIKIPIA's progress
along with monthly watercolour paintings of the
orphans, all via email. The idea is that these can be printed off and a journal
be kept of LAIKIPIA's progress and reintegration
back into the wild. That is what is truly unique about our project, each of
these orphans will eventually lead wild lives again,
and you are now part of that rewarding process.
I don't have a working printer at the moment so I have
decided to keep an on line journal of
Laikipia's progress.
I will update them as often as I have news and pictures
and when anything directly regarding
Laikipia happens via the Keeper's Diary:)
There are many orphaned elephants at the
trust that need financial help. I decided that I really didn't need any more
clothes but I DID need to help this little chap, so go on get out your credit
card and save a life. The membership fee is $50 and is a annual payment.
Remember, without our help, to the next
generations, elephants will be mythical creatures.
If you cannot afford to adopt, foster or donate
don't worry, there are
other ways you can
help:)
Emily Kate I
You can help! I
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Emily Kate Updates I
Laikipia Updates I
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust