Photographer James Suter, 30, from Cape Town, captured touching footage of baby elephants being hand-raised at Nairobi National Park’s orphanage in Kenya.
These young elephants are being cared for by the dedicated team at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust as they prepare to return to the wild.
James Suter documented these baby elephants, showing moments like a calf receiving a trunk rub from a caregiver to clear its nasal passages and another wrapped in a colorful blanket resembling a cozy coat.
These blankets are crucial for the young elephants, providing the warmth and comfort they lack from their mothers.
Photographer Antony Kimani explained the significance of these blankets. “Without their mothers’ warmth and care, the blankets offer essential comfort and protection,” Kimani said. “These vibrant coats are their secret weapon for survival.”
In the wild, their herd protects baby elephants from the wind, rain, and sun. They stay warm during cold nights and are shaded by their mothers from the harsh sun during hot days.
At the orphanage, the blankets provide similar protection. “Without these coverings, many orphaned elephants could succumb to cold and illness,” Kimani added.
The blankets serve as a lifeline for the young elephants, offering the warmth and security they normally receive from their mothers.
Like human children, some orphans become very attached to their blankets, playing with, sucking on, and finding comfort in them.
As the elephants grow, typically between 12 and 18 months, they are gently weaned off their blankets in preparation for joining a wild herd.
These blankets symbolize the care provided by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Caretakers lovingly bottle-feed the orphans and scratch their little trunks, helping them feel loved and secure.
Many of these elephants have lost their families to ivory poaching, habitat destruction, deforestation, or drought.
In one clip, a calf enjoys a trunk rub from a caregiver to help clear its nasal passages. The young orphans find solace in their blankets and receive abundant love and care from the dedicated staff at the Trust.
Through the devoted work of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, these baby elephants are given a second chance at life, wrapped in warmth and love until they are ready to thrive in the wild again.
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