BEAUTIFUL RESCUES RIPPLE OUT TO SAVE THE WORLD NOW

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

A single rescue can save millions. The impact ripples to touch families, communities, and even the world as a whole.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) operates The Orphans’ Project, the most successful orphan elephant and rhinoceros rescue and rehabilitation program in the world.

DSWT has significantly helped these animals in their struggles against ivory and horn poaching as well as their loss of habitat due to human encroachment, deforestation and drought.

Founded in 1977, by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E, in honor of her late husband, the famed naturalist David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE, DSWT has been a pioneer in wildlife and habitat conservation, preservation, and protection in East Africa.

Poachers seeking ivory and horn have been decimating elephant and rhino populations. When they kill adult animals, they put the babies at severe risk.

Not only are they vulnerable to predators and natural hazards, but because young elephants rely on mothers’ milk for the first 2 years of life, many orphans starve to death.

DSWT has developed innovative programs focused on anti-poaching, protecting habitat, raising community awareness, as well as animal health and welfare issues.

It took Daphne Sheldrick nearly 3 decades of trial and error to perfect the milk formula and complex husbandry necessary to rear an orphaned infant African elephant.

To date, DSWT has successfully hand-raised over 150 infant elephants which has majorly impacted long-term conservation missions by effectively reintegrating orphans back into the wild herds of Tsavo. These orphans have gone on to produce many healthy new wild-born calves.

DSWT’s Elephant Nursery works in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service in Nairobi National Park.

Chaired by Daphne Sheldrick, the DSWT is now run by daughter Angela Sheldrick.

DSWT is supported by partners, including British Airways, Nat Geo Wild, Animal Friends Pet Insurance, Chantecaille, Kathy Kamei Designs, Williamson Tea and Metage Capital, as well as individuals.

You can foster an orphaned animal through the DSWT Fostering Program. It’s an easy and very beautiful thing to do. Learn more about the Foster Program here.

To learn even more, please see Understanding the Orphan's Project.

Read more about Beautiful Rescues this week.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
2. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
3. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
4. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Oltaiyoni Mothers little Ambo.”
5. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Kiko Looks On As Jotto Attempts to Steal Edwin's Hat!”
6. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Elephant Calf Drinking Milk.”
7. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Mbegu the Elephant & Edwin, her Keeper.”
8. Image: by Harry Williams. Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
9. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Boromoko in Nairobi National Park.”
10. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Ashaka & Kamok.”
11. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Kibwezi Forest in Kenya, a Cornerstone of our Saving Habitats Initiative.”
12. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
13. Image: by BN App - Download now!
14. Image: Courtesy of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “Wiva & Her Nannies.”