The orphaned elephants cared for by the Samburu community are symbols of a new wave of relating to wildlife.
VOL. I. No. 1
The Reteti Elephant Report
A free publication of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
Community United for Elephants
www.retetielephants.org
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary takes in orphaned and abandoned elephant calves with an aim to release them back into the wild herds adjoining the Sanctuary.
SPECIAL EDITION
A HOME FOR ORPHANS OPPORTUNITIES CREATED, LIVELIHOODS IMPROVING AND WILDLIFE RETURNING
9 A.M. FEEDING TIME DURING THE NATURE WALK: The Reteti orphans who are strong enough spend all day, every day in wilderness to grow accustomed to being in nature so that they are better prepared for their eventual return to the wild. Photo by Ami Vitale.
2017: A Year of Growth, Learning and Love KATIE ROWE · RETETI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
The idea for the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary came out of community conversations. Over a period of two years, we had a series of meetings with the Samburu tribe and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the benefits that healthy elephants could bring to the area: employment, education and security. Continued dialogue resulted in full buy-in from the community, with the understanding that caring for elephants would improve their livelihoods. We would like to acknowledge our on-the-ground partners. We could not have gotten this far without the incredible support of the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) or the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Namunyak Conservancy is a well-established NRT Conservancy that has proven to be so incredibly successful at protecting and restoring its rangelands, improving livelihoods and promoting peace in the vast landscape that is so powerful in its beauty. KWS remains a critical partner and source of knowledge and expertise. Also, Conservation International has helped us broaden our community connections and provides crucial operational support. We’ve rescued 40 elephants since we accepted our first rescue in Sept. 2016. Yet our successes are also measured in behavior changes. Not so long ago, elephants were seen as giant pests for collapsing sandy watering holes where cattle drink. Now, the community is so proud of this project, and people ask us how each elephant is doing by name. Since there’s such strong involvement, the community really wants to see these elephants do W W W. R E T E T I E L E P H A N T S . O R G
well. When we’ve lost elephants, everyone feels the heartbreak; when a calf has made it through a tough time, everyone celebrates. Right now we have 35 staff caring for 12 elephants, which need 24-hour oversight. For many employees, this is their first job. Our keepers are a support system for the elephants, working in shifts and hand-feeding elephants with bottles to make sure they get the food they need day and night. Every morning, they take the elephants for walks, where the elephants spend most of their time in the wild grazing in the bush and chasing guinea fowl. In the heat of the day, they take mud baths before coming back to the sanctuary and getting fed again. It’s a fine balance between giving elephants space and time to do what they should be doing as elephants, but to also be in tune with an elephant’s needs and behavior so that the keepers know when they need to step in and take a more active parental role. One of the most beautiful things about Reteti is that it is a community-owned effort. All employees come from the local Samburu community. It isn’t just about saving elephants; it’s about breaking down stereotypes and redefining wildlife management. For instance, Reteti provides new employment opportunities for women and those who haven’t gone to school. Most of our keepers, or caretakers, were not able to attend school, and thought that their only future was as a pastoralist driving livestock. Now they can
get a job at Reteti, where their intimate knowledge of nature is an asset. The employment alone has had a huge impact on the community; the income from one job at Reteti ripples out to family members. Through talking to our staff, we’ve gained an understanding of just how many people rely on their salary. We believe that if Reteti can raise the average household income and quality of life alongside promoting education, then security for all wildlife, the landscape and for people will improve. In addition to saving the most vulnerable elephants, Reteti is changing the way communities view wildlife. When people realize that they can benefit from healthy elephant populations, they’re proud to take care of wildlife. Not to mention that this has never been done before — we’re pioneering a new model where a community is taking it upon themselves to raise and “re-wild” elephants in a community-owned landscape. This change in perspective is happily already being reflected in the numbers of elephants in the area. In the latest Northern Kenya Elephant Survey, with results announced Dec. 22, 2017, the elephant population was measured to be 7,347, compared to 6,454 in 2012, an increase of over 12 percent during a 5-year-period. Already we can see that our work is making a difference. We are so proud to be able to share it with you through this update and are thankful for your support, which has made this all possible.
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THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR PARTNERS
A Special Note from Our Partners at Conservation International DR. M. SANJAYAN CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
AMOS LELERUK AND ELEPHANTS AT FEEDING TIME: These elephants are not known for their patience when bottles are out. Photo by Ami Vitale.
In the Samburu pastoralist communities of Kenya, herders sing to their cattle at the watering holes they dig into dry river beds. Each herder has his own song, and the cattle learn to recognize their owner’s melody to find the correct well. These days, this musical tradition has a conservation twist: Each morning, before delivering water to their cattle, these herders spend a couple of hours in the hot morning sun digging out the same watering holes they dug the day before. The reason: an understanding with elephants. The coexistence didn’t come easily. For years, herders and elephants clashed. The clumsy pachyderms collapsed sandy water wells each night trying to steal a
drink, while desperate herders did all they could to protect their meager livelihoods, sometimes resorting to lethal methods to discourage the six-ton pests. Today, thanks to the work of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary and other important Conservation International partnerships in Northern Kenya, these herders are champions for elephants. In a far-reaching partnership, the community now benefits directly from wildlife tourism. The revenue generated from healthy elephant populations means they can improve their homes, expand their businesses and send their children to school. It’s no wonder the herders now happily re-dig their watering holes every day.
Northern Rangelands Trust Reflects on Reteti’s First Year IAN CRAIG
NORTHERN RANGELANDS TRUST
The communities of Samburu County have a long history of innovative conservation. In 1990, despite resistance from the wildlife authorities at the time, the community came together to launch a communityled conservation initiative under the auspices of Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust. Notwithstanding the challenges to register the Trust, the community continued to protect their elephants until a change of heart by the government enabled the formalization of the concept. Over this time, Namunyak entered into a tourism partnership with the Bastard family, establishing a world-class tourist facility that today is the top community revenue earner across the entire NRT portfolio of tourism operations. Throughout this time, the members of Namunyak appealed to the KWS and the Kenya Government that Samburu elephant orphans requiring care that had historically went to Nairobi should be allowed to remain in Samburu. This was a big ask of the government, given the skills and expertise required to care for orphaned elephants. However, thanks to the generosity of Nick Southgate through the TUSK Trust, Lee Rhodes and an anonymous donor; the enthusiasm and dedication of Jeremy and Katie Bastard; the veterinary skills of Mathew Mutinda with professional guidance from San Diego Zoo; RESCUE, or the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Communities United for Elephants, was born. With approvals in place, the community of Ngelai central within Namunyak came together to build the sanctuary. The location was key, requiring prime elephant habitat with no permanent human habitation, good water and easy access. This was
all found in a small, secluded valley on the eastern side of the Mathews range called Reteti. Water was piped by gravity 14 kilometers providing the community en-route with clean water. Construction was supported by Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Northern Rangelands Trust, and in a short nine months, all the infrastructure was in place to cater to any elephant calf requiring care. The waiting then began, and through a quirk of circumstances, no elephant calves required rescuing for the MARY LENGEES WITH SUYIAN: Mary Lengees stays in the stall with Suyian, our very next three months. The first rescue. Photo by Ami Vitale. team anxiously awaited done on site under the care of Joseph in communities, providing new job their anticipated charges, and during this time, managed to Lotonjiri with guidance from KWS and opportunities, generating increasing return two calves that had fallen down San Diego Zoo, through the electronic national interest in the strength and wells back to their mothers. This was transmission of data directly from reach of communities in conservation, a skill perfected by the Reteti team: Joseph’s microscope across the world. and fulfilling the Samburu peoples’ When a calf was reported in a well, The level of care the keepers, with wish to keep their elephants local while they deployed immediately and looked their pastoral background, provide injecting a whole new conservationafter for the calf for up to 48 hours is palpable, with bonds so deep that based economy into Samburu County. This story has only just begun, and in the exact location that its mother a visiting layman cannot help but be had left the calf. The mother would moved seeing the friendship between we can look forward to many years of partnerships between Namunyak, often return, at which time the Reteti elephant and human. KWS, NRT, Lewa, San Diego Zoo and The sight of nine content elephant team skillfully navigated a meeting those individuals whose generosity has calves heading into the hills with their of mother and calf with a success rate keepers to spend the day browsing made this project possible, supporting over 50%. The first calf arrived in Sept. 2016 among community livestock and the initiative from its inception through and since then, a steady trickle of wild elephants must be a standard- to these proud times today. Once again, animals have required the care and setter in highlighting where the Namunyak has shown that with an attention of Reteti’s resources. The future of conservation really lies. acceptance of risk and a clear focus, facility now is a world-class operation This is rapidly evolving into an communities can be the conservation with over 30 people employed caring extraordinary and unique combination innovators that drive the protection of for elephants. Disease diagnostics are of raising awareness of elephants our environment.
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THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ELDERS
On the Benefits of Reteti and Prayers for Its Future THE SAMBURU ELDERS
NAMUNYAK WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
Kore Ewon eitu eboli Reteti na kore ana kop na ni remat ee suam openy, koree paye kibol Reteti nikitum nkae oitei nikiramatie nkop paye etum nkop atiishoi neret loopeny. Before the Reteti community accepted the idea to build the orphanage on their land, the land was utilized for livestock rearing, and very little attention was given to wildlife use of the Reteti area. Once the community accepted the Reteti establishment, the community feels that the land benefits them more and is better managed than before the introduction of the elephant orphanage. The community supports the idea of multiple use of land, since it draws multiple benefits for the community.
Eeua nchatare e Reteti reto sapuk te loopeny Reteti. Kore apa ene neti Reteti na terishat ndonyo ake kake etaa ngoji naigerito lelero e loopeny nkop. Kore apa nkera e Reteti napuo aya Siai te nkopi, etishikunyete nkaang amu kutomo nkae oitei nikinyaiye parakuoisho e ngwesi.
The site that Reteti Elephant Sanctuary sits on used to be a bowl between hills that was used for seasonal grazing of livestock. After the opening of the Reteti Elephant orphanage, the community has received employment opportunities that were impossible to imagine earlier on. Many of the Reteti youth have returned home, and this is bringing talent and education back to the Reteti community. Kore te ndaaut aang iyoo lpayani Le reteti, kore parakuoisho e ngwesi na parakuoisho nikitapalaitie meretito iyoo te ntowotin kumo.
In our own opinion, as the elder and hence the leadership of the Reteti community, the wildlife resource is an asset that for many generations was not utilized, managed or preserved.
Kore Ana ramat e ngwesi te Reteti naa keyau reto kitok te ramat e nkop. Kore taata nkera aang, na kitum ropiyani e nkisoma, kore ltamoya netum nkeju naya nebakieki, netum nkop nkingwana nemeata apake. The Reteti elephant orphanage is bringing and will bring more benefits than simple employment. For example, the Reteti initiative has brought the community together indirectly, and this has brought a lot of togetherness and the harambee spirit. The rest of the conservancy is benefiting from the presence of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary through publicity and overflow of visitors’ interest. This has increased tourism income and has made the conservancy known all over Kenya.
Kore nkomono aang na paye kitakaniki ramat e ngwesi. Ne are kiyeu noponunye reteti nkatitin tomon apaye Kiret sii iyoo nkulie kopi. Ne uni naa ikijo Nashe te sotuatin Lang otii nkadorr te reto naichoo iyoo matabaki ene. Na iteshe iteret iyoo eisho ntai nkai ngolong. Ashe oleng pooki ngae. Our prayer is that we master the art of wildlife and environmental management. Secondly, we pray that Reteti grows ten-fold so that the benefits can spill over to other neighboring communities. Thirdly, we as the Reteti community are grateful more than we can ever say to our donors and supporters from near and far for the generous support that they have given us from the beginning. We hope that we keep fostering this relationship as we forge towards informed sustainable community conservation.
ELDER AND RETETI CO-FOUNDER JAMES LEPARKERIE: Leparkerie was one of the driving forces in creating the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. He has always understood that coexistence in today’s changing landscapes is far more valuable than intolerance of wildlife. Photo by Ami Vitale. W W W. R E T E T I E L E P H A N T S . O R G
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THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE LANDS
MATHEW MUTINDA: Mathew Mutinda, a vet with the Kenya Wildlife Service, crouches over an 18-month-old calf, still sedated after his rescue. His mother had been shot and killed in conflict with people. The calf was flown to an airstrip near the sanctuary, then driven to Reteti. Photo by Ami Vitale.
Kenya Wildlife Service Brings Wisdom and Knowledge MATHEW MUTINDA KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE
Northern Kenya is one of the most scenic wildlife landscapes the planet. The “north,” as it is popularly known in Kenya, boasts dramatic and varying scenery of beautiful green hills teeming with flora, fauna and wildlife that often shadow the dry and arid lands and plains. The Mathews Mountain Range and the Ndoto Mountains stand defiantly at almost 1,000 meters above the surrounding plains. Spread through the parched Laikipia plains, several community conservancies and wildlife ranches are working together to conserve wildlife, which brings in much-needed tourism revenue that helps secure livelihoods for families and boosts the region’s economic growth. Namunyak Conservancy, part of The Northern Rangelands Trust and the location of the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, is perfect elephant country
and home to more than 7,000 elephants.
“The sanctuary has not only transformed the lives of injured or orphaned elephants, but has enhanced the economic livelihoods of the communities who own and live on the conservancy. ” Nestled at the base of Namunyak hills, the sanctuary is in close proximity to a significant elephant population, meaning that orphaned or injured elephant calves in northern Kenya get immediate care and attention once they lose connection to their mothers or the herd. Elephants and Samburu people have co-existed together for millennia, and that is why Namunyak Community saw it prudent to set aside part of the land for an elephant sanctuary. This gave rise to African’s first community elephant orphanage. Calves identified
to be in critical need are transported to Reteti by road or air, depending on the situation. Once a calf has been professionally rescued and secured, it is sedated and immediately transported to the sanctuary. On arrival, calves are quarantined for seven days and treated preventatively to eliminate any disease transmission to the resident herd. Each rescued calf is assessed on a case-by-case basis and the right therapeutic plan is designed depending on prevailing need. Options vary, as some calves are left in the wild for several days before rescues and require immediate re-hydration, some are infected with bite wounds, and others are healthy with only a brief period of solitude. The opportunity for orphans to be fostered by older elephants offers an added advantage to the sanctuary, as this new family keeps the calves in good spirits, creates less stress and aids their rapidly developing immune systems — all important for survival.
The sanctuary has not only transformed the lives of the injured or orphaned elephants, but has enhanced the economic livelihoods of the communities who own and live on the conservancy. The sanctuary offers direct employment to community members and provides an opportunity for school children in northern Kenya to learn firsthand about the plight and care of orphaned elephants. Treating elephants is a truly emotionally fulfilling experience. It’s very exciting to observe, day by day, the improvement of calves who not long ago were on the brink of a daunting future. What has been learned and achieved in one year by the dedicated staff at Reteti and dependable partners is nothing short of remarkable. Reteti is a conservation win that will continue to astound, and illustrate that communities in Northern Kenya have not veered far from their age-old traditions of caring for elephants.
The Beginnings of a Transformation
AMI VITALE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
POKOT: A little elephant is given love. Photo by Ami Vitale.
What’s happening at Reteti, without fanfare, is nothing less than the beginnings of a transformation in the way humans relate to wild animals. This oasis where orphans grow up, learning to be wild so that one day they can rejoin their herds, is as much about people as it is about elephants. In the past the local people weren’t much interested in trying to save elephants. A rescued calf had to be transported to Kenya’s only orphanage, some 240 miles away, near Nairobi. If successfully rehabilitated, the youngster would have to be released into Tsavo National Park, with no hope of reunification with its original herd way to the north.
But now, with Reteti, elephant orphans, like two-yearold Shaba, the oldest resident at the time of my visit, can be returned to their home ground, where they’ll have a good chance of reconnecting with their relatives. The people who live here take pride in their elephants. As Rimland Lemojong puts it, “When I was a young boy, I first looked after the kids of goats, then goats, then upgraded to cows. Then I went to school. I am so happy because I used to raise my family’s cows here, and now I am raising baby elephants. It’s incredible.” Joseph Lolngojine adds, “When I go home, my community is asking by name how each elephant is.” “We take care of the elephants, and the elephants are taking care of us,” Lemojong explains. “We now have a relationship between us.”
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THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
KEEPING ELEPHANTS WITH THEIR HERDS
Rescue and Reunite: Our First Line of Action
In an ideal world, we would never bring elephants back to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary Elephant calves are separated from their herds for a number of reasons. One of the most common is a fall into a singing well. Singing wells are wells hand-dug by Samburu warriors, which they use to give water to their livestock. In the evenings, when the warriors and their animals have returned home, elephants use these wells for water. The wells can be very deep, particularly during times of drought. Elephants have to reach far into them to draw out water. If a small calf falls, it may not be able to make its way out. The herd will stay and wait and make noises of distress, but when morning comes, the elephant herds are forced to leave before the cattle and herders return to use the same water. Before Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was founded, a baby elephant trapped in a well would have been pulled out by tribesmen upon discovering it in the morning and left to fend for itself. There wasn’t a way for the community to help it. Today, however, the warriors know that we are here. They will often use their cell phones to call Reteti for help. Team members and staff from Reteti Elephant Sanctuary will hasten to the well. They will pull the calf from it, and then they will speak to the community about the patterns of the elephant herds in the area. Elephants are creatures of habit. They will often return to the same spots over and over again. After talking with the community and establishing if the herd is likely to come back, our specially trained keepers will keep the calf nearby, calm and hydrated until its mother returns. If the calf is doing well, and its life is not in danger, our keepers will stay with an orphaned calf for as long as 48 hours, caring for it and keeping watch for its lost kin. Seeing one of these reunions is beyond beautiful. You begin to hear lots of grumbling and rumbling. The baby will perk up. Our keepers will move out of the way as the herd gets closer, and the baby will run to its mother as soon as it spots the group. There will be trumpeting, and trunks are everywhere, as all of the elephants move in to embrace the lost calf. Our team will give a sign of relief and will rest with hearts full of happiness knowing a family was reunited. We are currently building our Rapid Response, Rescue and Reunite team that will focus exclusively on these reunions. They will be able to get to baby elephants quickly and know exactly how to make reunions happen. They will live and operate out of a car, especially during dry times when the wells get deeper and more dangerous. They will be moving particularly around the areas that are hot spots for the very deep, deep, deep wells. Right now, we are raising money to support this team. If you would like to help support the Rapid Response, Rescue and Reunite Team, please contact Reteti Elephant Sanctuary directly at info@retetielephants.org
RIMLAND AND KINYA: Rimland Lemojong sits with Kinya as they wait for her herd to return. She was found trapped in a hand-dug well in the Sera Wildlife Conservancy by Samburu warriors. Photo by Ami Vitale.
WAITING: Kinya pushes on the keepers as they wait in hopes of her herd returning. Photo by Ami Vitale.
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THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
KEEPER PROFILES
Keeper Profile: Dorothy Lowuekuduk
“They are proud of me,” says Dorothy Lowuekuduk as she meticulously measures spoonful’s of various ingredients for making the milk formula used to feed the orphaned elephant calves at Retiti Elephant Sanctuary. Dorothy wanted to be a keeper because she had passion for the work and appreciated the wild animals that surrounded her on the 394,000-hectare Namunyak Wildlife Sanctuary. For her, learning to be a keeper was the best part, simply because she would not be able to do the work she does today if she hadn’t been trained to do it. Before Dorothy began working at the Sanctuary, she was afraid of
wild animals, especially elephants. Today, she loves them, which is evident from all of the dedicated care she gives to the orphaned elephants at Reteti. She also appreciates that they bring tourism to the area and help attract funding to protect the wilderness, and, as a keystone species, that they play an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live. Dorothy says her family is proud of the work she is doing, and her salary is a tremendous help to her family. She notes that the sanctuary also benefits the community at large through bursaries, sanitation, transportation and the promotion of culture.
DOROTHY LOWUEKUDUK BRINGS A MEAL: The Reteti orphans eat every three hours around the clock. Here, Dorothy brings their meal to the wilderness walk. Photo by Ami Vitale.
Keeper Profile: Mike Leado
MIKE LEADO: In the field.
Mike Leado became a keeper because he wanted to help orphaned elephants grow up to be strong and healthy. He looks forward to the day when the elephants reach roughly three years old and can be transferred to Sera Sanctuary to be reunited with the wild herds, and possibly even their mothers. It’s just another bonus that this is a paying job with which he can support himself and his family. Mike says that the best part of his work is taking the baby elephants on their daily nature stroll and looking for browsing materials. It gives the community a chance to get to know the elephants and learn that they indeed belong to them. However, going out on nature walks is also the most challenging part of the job: the elephants need to be watched very carefully, and he must be
careful that they are not disturbed by herders while also making sure they get enough browsing, all while monitoring the elephants’ health and movement. His favorite elephant is Shaba. She was one of the earliest rescues, who has today become a herd leader and an incredible surrogate mother. Shaba always welcomes the newest rescues, which he finds touching. He also particularly enjoys playing with Nadasoit, one of the most recent rescues. Mike tells the community about the work he does and helps them understand the importance of the rescues and other accomplishments happening at Reteti. His family and the community appreciate the work that occurs in the sanctuary and enjoy hearing all about it when he returns home.
Women Keepers: Anything a Man Can Do, a Woman Can Do Better Reteti Elephant Sanctuary and the Namunyak Community have been breaking ground and stereotypes by employing and promoting a female presence in the Reteti team. Prior to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, women keepers were unknown in any part of Kenya, and perhaps all of Africa. Traditionally, women in Kenya are married young and aim to have as many children as possible (often a number that reaches between 5-10). Although women had never been keepers before, the community has embraced the new program. Today, Reteti has a total of five women keepers. The community is excited to hear what these women have accomplished, and rush to them to learn news of each of the elephants in their care. Empowering women is crucial to counteract the increasing pressure placed on this fragile landscape. We are opening a door to a world of possibilities where women are equally entitled to working on their own land
and protecting their own wildlife. Reteti is changing the way these communities relate to wildlife, and this brings a sense of pride and responsibility to the women working at the sanctuary. They know that by caring for the elephants, their efforts are reducing poaching and human-wildlife conflict. For Dorothy Lowuekuduk, the fact that she is a keeper is still hard to believe. Yet, she is excited to do the job and feels honored to be an inspiration to so many women around the world. Dorothy believes that women are particularly good at being keepers and especially in caring for the young calves, since they are mothers and know how it feels having a young one around. She believes that by incorporating women and their particular nurturing skills into the keeper workforce, they will be able to increase the survival rate of baby elephants in the area. “Nothing is difficult,” says Dorothy. “Anything a man can do, a woman can do better.”
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NAOMI BRUSHES BAWA: Naomi Leshongoro is one of Kenya’s first women keepers. Photo by Ami Vitale.
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THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
OUR TEAM
True Heroes: The Amazing Reteti Elephant Keeper Team
JOSEPH LOLGOJINE
DOROTHY LOWUEKUDUK
ANDREW LESHAKWAET
LENATO IKAJANGA
PAULINE LEARIONG
RIMLAND LEMOJONG
SABINAH LALKALEPI
SAFARICOM LENARUM
TALONE ALFRED
KALAMON LEOGUSA
AMOS LELERUK
MARY LENGEES
NAOMI LESHONGORO
MIKE LEARKA
JOSEPH LENKANKAA
LMEITEKINI LEARAMAN
SILUS LEPUIPUI
LERAMAN IMETEKINI
ALBERT LENAMERKIR
JERISON LENGONYEKIE
LENAREAU LOPUNYU
FRANCIS LENGOLOS
PETER LESIORTE
SALOME LESOWAPIR
RASHA LENAMATIYO
MATIBA LOLKOLOI
NKOTIMA LENKOLIAI
LEADO IPAREMIAN
GITONGA LENGULATE
LEKURAIYO LONYEKIE
SEINA LEKALANTULA
LEMARASH IKATEYO
LEWASO LENEEMI
MOSES LEKULAL
DAVID LENANYEKIE
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ELEPHANT PROFILES
BAWA. Photo by Ami Vitale.
Bawa: Our Miracle SHABA LEADING THE HERD: Shaba is instrumental in loving, teaching and providing comfort to the younger orphans. Photo by Ami Vitale.
Shaba: The Matriarch At 2 years old, Shaba is the matriarch of the Reteti herd. She was rescued from Shaba National Reserve in November 2016, after poachers shot her mother dead. As would be expected, Shaba was traumatized when she arrived at the sanctuary. It took us a long time to gain her trust. We spent day and night, talking, singing, offering her seed pods and fresh grass—anything we could think of to win her over so that she would accept a bottle from us, but she just didn’t want anything to do with Reteti’s keepers. Then, one day, after spending an
hour in a stack of tires, she finally took a bottle, and a strong bond was formed. Today, Shaba is absolutely instrumental at the sanctuary as the matriarch of the orphan herd. She keeps order, teaches the young ones how to forage and navigate steep paths, and, most incredibly, greets every new orphan who arrives at the sanctuary with a heartfelt and emotional hello. She is the anchor of this unique orphan herd and key to the success of the orphans around her.
When Bawa came to us at 2 weeks old, he was hovering between life and death. Emaciated, dehydrated and scared, he had been stuck and submerged in the mud near a dam in Maralal for days. His eyes were burnt from staring up at the sun, and his skin was peeling. He had swallowed a terrible amount of mud and was so very sick. The veterinarian who examined him had little hope for recovery. Undeterred by the doctor’s appraisal, our dedicated team leapt into action, working non-stop for 48 hours, never leaving Bawa’s side while he received an IV drip and oxygen. It took many weeks of dedicated work and loving care from the amazing staff here at Reteti for Bawa to recover. Even the elephants helped: Once Bawa was strong enough to join the herd on walks, Shaba took him under her wing. Bawa was never without Shaba and Shaba was never without Bawa. Today, Bawa is a strong, healthy, big boy of 7 months who loves to play with Pokot in the mud hole, where they tumble and pile on top of one another. As he becomes more and more independent, he is passing his role as baby and Shaba’s shadow onto Nadasoit, a young female elephant.
LOISABA IN HIS FIRST DAYS: From the moment they saw him, the herd was besotted, eager to know all about Loisaba. Photo by Ami Vitale.
Loisaba: The New Best Friend Loisaba, an 8-month-old male calf, is one of our most recent additions. He arrived mid-October via plane from Loisaba Conservancy, where he had been found malnourished and wandering around alone. We do not know what happened to Loisaba’s mother, but as mothers are not willingly separated from their calves, we know it was not a choice. There has recently been a lot of elephant movement in and out of the conservancy, so it is possible his mother was poached or died elsewhere.
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NADASOIT. Photo by Ami Vitale.
At Reteti, Loisaba is adjusting wonderfully. At first, while he adjusted to his new surroundings, he stayed only with his keeper, Lemarash, every day. After a week, we decided to introduce him to the rest of the herd. It was a beautiful moment to witness. Nadasoit, his first friend, came barreling down the hill to meet him. Then, they intertwined trunks, just like children holding hands. For the rest of the day, the whole herd followed him everywhere, as they were all so eager to get to know him.
Nadasoit: Shaba’s Shadow
Nadasoit is a 7-month-old female who was rescued from a well and picked up by a helicopter when she was about 2 weeks old. Today, she’s a plump little girl who has joined our herd. Now that Bawa is growing up and becoming more independent, Nadasoit is the new baby and constant fixture by Shaba’s side.
COMMUNITY UNITED FOR ELEPHANTS
A9 • NEWS
THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
ELEPHANT PROFILES
Sosian: The Heartbroken Sosian came to us after his mother was irreparably wounded by a gunshot from a poacher. We chartered a plane to bring him to us. He had sustained no wounds in the attack, but his mother’s blood caked was caked on him. When the others came back from their daily nature walks, they were all permitted to enter the shelter with their stalls. Shaba immediately smelled the blood on Sosian and went to his stall, sticking her trunk through the posts and into the pen. Sosian responded immediately, intertwining his trunk with hers. After spending some time probing the new elephant with her trunk, Shaba suddenly pulled her trunk out of the stall and became agitated, thrashing her head from side to side, stomping, and pushing her head into the wall where a large foam pad was hanging. She then returned to the newcomer and began to pet him again.
We cannot know what Shaba was thinking, but she seemed to be clearly expressing frustration and anger. She saw another calf had lost his mother as she had, and the fact sent her into a rage. Soon, after, all the other elephants were reaching in to greet and perhaps comfort the new arrival. Through the night, about every 15 minutes, Sosian let out pained cry that echoed through the valley; the wild elephants gathered in the area were far more active and agitated than normal. Sosian has adjusted well to life with Reteti’s herd. He has made a new family and takes great joy in his mud-baths and daily walks. Still, it is hard not to think of the great outpouring of grief from him and the elephant community that we saw on the day he arrived, alongside the heartbreak humankind brought to him and to so many — too many — other elephants in the world today.
MPALA AT THE MUDHOLE: Photo by Ami Vitale.
Mpala: The Playful
Mpala came to us on June 21, 2017 from a ranch in Laikipia. She had been orphaned because of the drought. Today, she is thriving at Reteti. Mpala and Lchurai are two peas in a pod. They are exactly the same size. Mpala herself is simply a character; she will come barreling right up to you when she sees you. Each day, she’s getting more confident and playful and is adjusting so well to Reteti. She’s slotted into the rest of the herd, and you can clearly see up how she’s grown into her place.
SOSIAN WITH LERAMAN: Leraman Imetekini breaks branches for Sosian to eat. Photo by Ami Vitale.
LINGWEZI BROWSING: Photo by Ami Vitale.
Lingwezi: The Clown
WARGES WITH LEMARASH IKATEYO: A nature walk inspection. Photo by Ami Vitale.
Warges: The Happy-Go-Lucky
Warges was rescued from right near Sarara Camp. His mother had bullet wounds in her foot and died of septicemia (blood poisoning). He had joined another herd and followed it up Warges, the highest peak in the Mathews Range and the mountain behind Reteti, so we thought he would be okay. But then he came down, emaciated and alone, and we knew we needed to rescue him. You can distinguish Warges by the scar he has
on his ear. Before he was rescued, a spear went through his ear into his shoulder. Nevertheless, Warges is a big softy. As the biggest elephants in the herd, Warges is docile, happy-go-lucky, friendly and easygoing. And, while all of the elephants love to eat, Warges just eats and eats and eats. He’s frequently in the company of Sosian and Lingwezi, and he acts like a big brother to all the elephants.
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Lingwezi was rescued from a group ranch called Lingwezi Conservancy on January 27, 2017. When he arrived at Reteti, he was so skinny and in terrible condition. He had been separated from his herd and was about 8 months old when he was rescued by rangers at Lingwezi Conservancy. The rangers watched for a month to see if he could survive on his own, but in the end, they decided he needed our help. Lingwezi was picked up and brought in by air. He was covered in warts and strange sores and had really low energy — signs of malnutrition. It was positively amazing to see him heal and put on weight. He became himself and found his place with the Reteti herd quite well. He’s very close with Sosian, and it’s sweet to watch them together — they both love the mud hole! Lingwezi is always the biggest clown there, and he loves to have a dust bath. One other interesting thing about Linwezi is the use of his trunk. During the drought, we would give the elephants pellets because there wasn’t much food to browse. Lingwezi had a very unique way to look for pellets: He used the back of his trunk, and he was always the last one looking. Overall, he’s a lovely, friendly, happy elephant that we’re glad to have in our herd.
COMMUNITY UNITED FOR ELEPHANTS
A10 • NEWS
THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
ELEPHANT PROFILES (AND ONE RHINO)
Ewaso: The Brave
Ewaso arrived in Reteti in November. She was dramatically rescued from the raging, flooded Ewaso Ng’iro River by staff and guests of the nearby Samburu Elephant Bedroom camp. She is doing really well, and displays quite a bit of spunk and charisma. The other day, when it started raining, Ewaso began trumpeting at everyone because she was angry that she had to go to her stable. When we let her out again, she went barreling out into the grass with her keeper. She is being cared for by Mike and Leado. Both have
raised calves successfully from this young age before and been through tricky times. They cared for Nadasoit and Bawa in their early days, bringing them through to be the nice, strong elephants they are today. Ewaso is in the best hands, and they are with her day and night. Her keepers go on walks with her through the morning, then she snoozes in the heat of the day, after which they go on another walk. Then, Ewaso’s keeper Leado sleeps with her in her stable during the night.
EWASO: Our lovely, brave little character.
Lchurai: The Sensitive
Lchurai, a young female, was rescued in an area that bears her name. She is a drought-related victim that arrived on July 3, 2017, when she was about 7 months old. When she came in, Lchurai was stressed, which prevented her from adjusting into Reteti’s herd. She didn’t trust the keepers and didn’t want to get to know any of them. She would come in, drink her bottle and then disappear into the background. She also didn’t want to get to know the other elephants. She very much was going through post traumatic stress and was having a noticeably tough time. In the last two months, however, she has started to come out of her shell. She and Mpala have locked onto each other as buddies. She will still come barreling up to you with a mock charge, but then once she realizes who you, are she’ll relax. You pick up such sensitivity from all of the orphaned elephants. They have been through a terrible ordeal. But you particularly pick up a sensitivity from LCHURAI: Lchurai makes her way through brush Lchurai that she still yearns for her mother. during the nature walk. Photo by Ami Vitale. We hope one day she will be reunited with her.
POKOT WITH HIS SOCCER BALL: Pokot loves to play soccer with his keepers. Photo by Ami Vitale.
Pokot: “Sangalai” The Lone Bull Pokot was found in Turkana on Northern Rangelands Trust’s Pello Conservancy. He had been abandoned by his mother due to drought, because without water she was unable to nurse. After days of intensive care, exciting signs of playfulness started to emerge, showing that Pokot was making a recovery and getting his spirit back.
Fast forward to today, when a healthy, hearty Pokot is a keeper favorite. He remains a fairly independent character, but entertains himself and the team endlessly with games in the mud bath. Diving in headfirst and wallowing in the muddy waters, Pokot is sometimes lost in his own mind, only to realize that the rest of the heard moved on to browse some time ago!
Loijipu: The Black Rhino
LOIJIPU WITH KAMARA: Loijipu enjoys a moment while out on a browse with John Kamara, one of his three dedicated keepers. Photo by Ami Vitale. W W W. R E T E T I E L E P H A N T S . O R G
Loijipu is the beloved Reteti rhino. His name means “to follow,” or “second in line,” and he was named for the area where he was found. He is your typical, albeit very sweet, wild rhino. He stomps his foot and snorts when someone he doesn’t know approaches. Loijipu came to us when he was only 2 days old. He was tiny, the size of a dinner plate. We could carry him in our arms with ease! He had been abandoned by his mother, who had gone to browse and left him behind. While she was gone, some curious researchers had gotten too close to the newborn. When his mother returned, she could smell the humans on him and rejected him. Although we wish he had been able to stay with his mother, he has thrived at Reteti and we have treasured him. He adores his three dedicated keepers and follows them everywhere. He has gotten big and strong in their care, and is developing a nice big horn. He is preparing himself for the wild. This year, we will be re-introducing Loijipu into the wild. He will return to the sanctuary where he was found and where his mother still lives. In fact, he will probably meet her there, a thought which brings us joy.
COMMUNITY UNITED FOR ELEPHANTS
A11 • GRATITUDE
THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Thank You To Our Donors: Without You, No Work is Possible Our founding donors Anonymous
Matt Railes
Lee Rhodes
Our local supporters BATUK Borana Grevy Zebra Trust
Nick Southgate
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy MPESA Foundation Nairobi Securities Exchange
Kelsey Warren
Royal African Foundation Safaricom Foundation Tropic Air
For direct contributions of $1,000 or more to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary:
Cina Alexander Forgason Allied World Suvi Asch Angela Ballasiotes Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band Susan Boll Susie Brow Abigail Church Andrew Crow Erin Culley and Richard Carlson Nigel and Lisa Champion Hailee and Justin Dover
Alessia Eramo Peper Edmiston William and Mary Ellen Feldbaumer glassybaby Kirsten Johnson Deirdre May MIA KORA Julie Monahan Melissa and Kelton Morgan Alexander Moore Edward Peake Dean Pitchford
Michael Politza Devin Powell Jeanne Reid and Gregory Anrig Nancy Morgan Ritter James Robertson Amy Scarfone Sonal Singh Malia Spencer Emily Spitzer David Treinis and Janine Shepherd Ami Vitale Renee Wailes
For support of $1,000 or more to Conservation International’s Sarara Initiative, of which Reteti is a part, and which is creating a sustainable future in Northern Kenya: Bisnow Family Robyn and Michael DeBell Jacquie and Bennett Dorrance Anonymous Kelsey & Josh Klinefelter
Our partner organizations: Conservation International Elephant Cooperation Escape glassybaby The Horton Fund
The Life is Good Company Ryan Magnussen Katie and Mike Mueller Ashley and Matthew O’Reilly The Mike Richter Family
Sara Terry/10(X) Editions Branka and Jose Vargas Anonymous
ICAP Kenya Wildlife Service Kleinwort Trust The Life is Good Company Northern Rangelands Trust
San Diego Zoo Global Summit Tusk Trust Yachak Organic
A special thank you:
The emerging community conservation movement in Northern Kenya is made possible through the foresight and generosity of the American People through U.S. Agency for International Development for which the communities and the Sanctuary are extremely appreciative.
394,000HECTARES
IN OUR AREA OF OPERATION Photo by Ami Vitale.
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44From Neighboring Communities Staff Members
Photo by Ami Vitale.
COMMUNITY UNITED FOR ELEPHANTS
A12 • IN ACTION
THE RETETI ELEPHANT REPORT • SPECIAL EDITION
THE IMPACT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
Awareness and Momentum: Join Us on Our Exciting Year Ahead
and more understanding of these incredibly complex and fragile orphans. We also plan to boost and further develop the Reteti education program, ensuring that every dollar spent on an elephant has an equal impact within the community. School visits have proven to be a huge hit and the experience of seeing an elephant so close is certainly inspiring a new generation of young environmentalists. Access to schooling through scholarships and bursaries has been one of the biggest benefits to the Reteti/ Namunyak community thus NAOMI AND POKOT: An insistent Pokot is more than happy to help Keeper Naomi far, and we hope to provide more and more opportunity in Leshongoro with the bottle she is carrying. Photo by Ami Vitale. this space. The rescue protocols, professional JEREMY BASTARD An extremely kind gift RETETI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY levels of elephant care, veterinary from the Horton Fund and the Bama knowledge, collaborations and We cannot thank all of our supporters community awareness has come so far Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band and partners enough for joining us on this past year. With the support of San allowed us to purchase and build a what has been an incredible whirlwind Diego Zoo Global, we were able to build specially-designated rescue and release of a journey thus far! As Reteti firmly a laboratory and train up staff so as to vehicle. This year, the vehicle will spend implants itself as a pivotal, community- provide factual backing and invaluable time responding to rescue cases and driven conservation initiative within information to be used in all elephant developing the art of returning orphans the Northern Rangelands of Kenya, we medical care and husbandry. In 2018, we back to their mothers before need of care. are so excited to build on the existing will be developing the capabilities of this Similarly, the team will work to mitigate momentum, and to create more impact lab and hosting experts to provide high- the dangers of human-dug wells, which within the communities and wildlife level training to members of the local results in so many orphan cases. The populations that co-inhabit this community. This boost to the elephant level of community awareness and buyin has been extraordinary thus far, and magnificent wilderness. care facility will ultimately result in more the rescue team will look to build on this
momentum to reduce human-elephant conflict across the wider landscape. This year marks the start of our plans to reintroduce the larger orphans back to the wild! This is a long and complex
“As Reteti firmly implants itself as a pivotal, community driven conservation initiative within the Northern Rangelands of Kenya, we are so excited to build on the existing momentum, and to create more impact.” task, but we are confident that we have the right foundations in place to do this successfully. The infrastructure put in place by The Northern Rangelands Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service across a vast landscape will allow for quick communication, research and monitoring and top-quality security for the orphans. The Sera Rhino Sanctuary offers a perfect space for a soft release, and as the orphans learn more about life in the wild, we will focus our efforts on reuniting them with their wild relations, while giving them every possible chance of a long happy life in the wild. This is going to be a challenging but incredible journey and we look forward to sharing every minute with you! Reteti is a conservation win that will continue to astound and illustrate that communities in Northern Kenya have not veered far from their age-old traditions of caring for elephants.
Maximum Impact: What Your Donations Do For Reteti $20 USD
Buys 10 Solar Torches for Our Team
$80 USD
Buses in a Group of Local School Children
2060/-KES
So our keepers and staff can see through the long, dark evenings as they care for our fragile new arrivals
6181/-KES So that children in the community can learn about and become proud stewards of their elephants
$220 USD
Purchases Milk for 1 Elephant for 1 Week
$500 USD
Funds 1 Rapid Rescue and Reunite Mission
$760 USD
Pays 1 Keeper’s Salary for 1 Month
$4000 USD
Funds the Airlift of 1 Elephant Rescue
22,665/-KES
51,507/-KES
78,305/-KES
412,064/-KES
So elephants can become big and strong and return to the wild one day soon
So lost young elephant calves can be joyfully reunited with their herds
So community members can earn a fair living, support their families and see firsthand the economic value of healthy elephants. So our orphans can arrive safely at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, as airlift is often the only possible transportation
$22,000 USD Funds Our Entire Air Operation For One Year 2,266,180/-KES
So the Reteti Team can monitor herds and rescue elephant calves across the 394,000 hectare Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy and beyond
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COMMUNITY UNITED FOR ELEPHANTS