| Wild Orphans |
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Wild Orphan 8:
Following 8 babies was serendipity,
prolonged drought and increased ivory poaching
brought over a dozen orphaned baby elephants to the David
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in a couple short months. It seemed overnight
the few stables and dozen milk bottles, along with the small staff to
mind for them, were all being over taxed. Gerry's initial months were
spent working most days at the orphanage and documenting new
arrivals and the struggles of toddlers as they tried to cope with the
dramatic upheaval in their lives. It is during this period that the tireless
work of everyone at the Trust makes you understand the incredible
dedication and commitment such an undertaking demands. This is
one of the reasons volunteers rarely work directly with the babies - they
can not commit the years it requires for the baby elephants on survival.
Following 8 babies was serendipity,
prolonged drought and increased ivory poaching
brought over a dozen orphaned baby elephants to the David
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in a couple short months. It seemed overnight
the few stables and dozen milk bottles, along with the small staff to
mind for them, were all being over taxed. Gerry's initial months were
spent working most days at the orphanage and documenting new
arrivals and the struggles of toddlers as they tried to cope with the
dramatic upheaval in their lives. It is during this period that the tireless
work of everyone at the Trust makes you understand the incredible
dedication and commitment such an undertaking demands. This is
one of the reasons volunteers rarely work directly with the babies - they
can not commit the years it requires for the baby elephants on survival.
Natumi
Rescued: April 1999
Natumi was not the oldest, nor was she my original choice
for the focus of Wild Orphans. She fell into the job for all the
wrong reasons - babies kept perishing around her.
At first she was a shy and recluse little girl. This is one of my
favorite images of her in those first few days after rescue.
One would never have imagined that this little elephant
would become so confident and self-aware in another
couple years.
More about Natumi
Rescued: April 1999
Natumi was not the oldest, nor was she my original choice
for the focus of Wild Orphans. She fell into the job for all the
wrong reasons - babies kept perishing around her.
At first she was a shy and recluse little girl. This is one of my
favorite images of her in those first few days after rescue.
One would never have imagined that this little elephant
would become so confident and self-aware in another
couple years.
More about Natumi
Icholta
Rescued: October 1999
I always remember Icholta as a baby that loved
the mud - the great irony is she was rescued from
a mud hole near a place called Icholta; with
what she had been through it would have
seemed she would have steered clear of
anything resembling that original danger, such
are baby brains that they move on quickly with
love and support.
Rescued: October 1999
I always remember Icholta as a baby that loved
the mud - the great irony is she was rescued from
a mud hole near a place called Icholta; with
what she had been through it would have
seemed she would have steered clear of
anything resembling that original danger, such
are baby brains that they move on quickly with
love and support.
Ilingwesi
Rescued: April 1999
It was hard not to like such a gentle little girl. I
loved saying her name - maybe because it
always reminded me of her place of origin in the
dry north central Laikipia country of Kenya. I had
spent a fair amount of time photographing near
there on the Lewa Conservancy property (on a
black rhino project with Anna Merz and the Craig
Family). Mornings their are crisp desert air. I love
watching elephants in that red dust country.
Rescued: April 1999
It was hard not to like such a gentle little girl. I
loved saying her name - maybe because it
always reminded me of her place of origin in the
dry north central Laikipia country of Kenya. I had
spent a fair amount of time photographing near
there on the Lewa Conservancy property (on a
black rhino project with Anna Merz and the Craig
Family). Mornings their are crisp desert air. I love
watching elephants in that red dust country.
Lolokwe
Rescued: July 1999
I
Rescued: July 1999
I
Nyiro
Rescued: November 1999
Being the baby boy amongst several females
initially had some sympathy benefit.
Rescued: November 1999
Being the baby boy amongst several females
initially had some sympathy benefit.
Salama
Rescued: July 1999
Rescued: July 1999
Laikipia
Rescued: February 2000
I
Rescued: February 2000
I
Edie
Rescued: July 1999
Rescued: July 1999
