Surviving Tsavo’s Harsh Dry Season: The Fortunate Encounter That Saved Orphan Kamili
In the midst of a grueling dry season in Tsavo, life has become incredibly difficult for all creatures. But for Kamili, an orphaned elephant, the situation would have been unbearable if not for a stroke of luck. A sighting just in time led to her rescue. On October 3rd, 2021, we received news of a young calf who had fallen in Satao, Tsavo East National Park. Luckily, Trevor, our field manager, was nearby checking on the area’s water sources for the wildlife. As the Voi Keepers quickly gathered supplies, Trevor rushed to Satao to help Kamili.
During his journey, he stumbled upon a juvenile elephant that was in a dire condition. Trevor approached the elephant easily since it was too feeble to move farther than a few unsteady steps. He immediately noticed that this elephant was not the same one reported earlier as the first calf was unresponsive while this one could barely stand, exhausting all of its energy to do so.
We found ourselves faced with the urgent care of two orphaned elephants. We knew that time was of the essence, so we quickly mobilized additional support from our Kaluku Field HQ and dispatched a rescue plane to Satao. Unfortunately, the first elephant was too far gone to be saved and passed away, but we were able to provide the second calf with the care it needed to survive. When our team arrived on the scene, they administered drips to the calf and led it to a shaded area. The rescue plane wasted no time in returning to base as the sun began to set. The calf was flown to the Nairobi Nursery, where our Keepers welcomed it with fresh water, supplements, and greens, and provided it with the crucial drips it needed.
Kamili’s life was saved thanks to quick and decisive actions. For those affected by drought, each passing hour is crucial and can mean the difference between surviving or not. Despite Kamili being brought to the Nursery, her condition remained precarious and it took several weeks of dedicated care to nurse her back to health. Although she’s still quite skinny, her cheeks and belly are slowly filling out day by day. Moreover, her lively spirit is gradually returning, which is just as significant. Kamili is a charming elephant with captivating eyes that express her emotions vividly.
It is impossible to determine exactly how she became an orphan, but it is likely that Kamili’s herd was forced to abandon her when she was no longer able to keep up with them. However, Kamili will never be abandoned again. She tends to be timid and does not approach others unless they approach her first. Luckily, the other elephants in our Nursery herd are quite sociable and have been eager to befriend Kamili. Kindani and Kinyei have been especially welcoming to her. While we are saddened by the loss of another Satao orphan, there is a silver lining: If Trevor had not chanced upon Kamili, she would not be alive today.
