According to my mother’s wise words, being a baby elephant would be wonderful in an ideal world.

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The love of a mother is genuinely remarkable. My mother told me that being a baby elephant must be a fantastic experience.

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They are constantly surrounded by a supportive family, always there for them. In a world where everything is perfect, this is how it should be for every living being.

Watch the video at the end.

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The motivation behind these Field Notes came from a recent experience a few weeks ago.

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Our organization is widely recognized for caring for Kenya’s orphaned elephants and ensuring they receive love and affection while growing up.

Nonetheless, our main objective is to reunite elephant families whenever we can, safeguarding the idyllic world that Daphne referred to. This month, we honor maternal love and explore several inspiring stories of elephant family reunions.

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Raising a baby elephant is a labor of love that starts well before they take their first steps on earth.

Incredibly, elephants carry their babies for 22 months, the most extended gestation period of any mammal.

During this time, mothers endure droughts, travel long distances, and face daily challenges while nurturing their little miracles from within.

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When a baby elephant is born, its mother and nannies quickly help it stand up, marking the first of countless supportive gestures that will continue for months, years, and even decades.

For elephants, familial love lasts a lifetime, making it all the more heart-wrenching when human actions or natural disasters tear families apart. While we provide a home for orphaned elephants, our primary goal is to keep families together.

Watching the bond between a mother elephant and her baby is a beautiful display of pure love; we must honor and protect it.

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Recently, our attention was drawn to a specific task. Late at night, just before retiring to bed, my colleague Robert and I decided to check the night vision cameras around the Ithumba area.

The water trough outside the stockades attracts different types of wildlife, making it an exciting spot to observe nocturnal visits.

During our latest check, we noticed a small group of elephants gathered around the trough, which wasn’t unusual.

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However, we could tell that something was off. Instead of the usual calm demeanor of the animals, they appeared agitated and distressed, pacing around and shaking their heads.

Upon closer inspection, we realized that the youngest member of their group, a newborn calf, was stuck inside the trough.

Although we have mechanisms to prevent such events, this little one managed to get trapped, and despite the herd’s best efforts, they could not rescue her.

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In the future, I will reveal more details about this incredible tale. But before that, let me take a quick break and share an everyday occurrence in Kenya with you.

These heart-warming rescues happen regularly, and they never fail to leave a lasting impression on me. One instance that particularly stands out is when we saved a baby elephant on Christmas Eve.

The poor little thing had a snare wrapped around its throat and ear, and its protective mother charged at our Land Cruiser, causing significant damage to the vehicle.

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However, we didn’t give up and removed the wire from the baby elephant. Witnessing him reunite with his family was the best Christmas present we could’ve asked for.

On the night before Christmas, a team of veterinarians went to rescue a young calf who had injured her leg and was struggling to keep up with her herd.

The rangers wanted to keep the family together, so they quickly mobilized their Mount Kenya Mobile Vet Unit to treat the calf.

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She had been shot, but luckily, the wound wasn’t fatal, and the calf could recover and rejoin her herd.

However, when the veterinarians returned to check on the calf, they encountered her protective mother, who stood her ground and faced off against their Land Cruiser.

Despite the tense situation, everyone involved could safely complete the de-snaring operation and ensure the calf’s and her family’s well-being.

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Some time ago, there was a situation where a young calf got trapped in mud near Aruba Lodge. The Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit came to the rescue and found the calf barely visible in the ground.

The team carefully led the calf’s herd away, and some rolled up their pants to wade into the muddy area to rescue the little guy.

After they pulled him out of the sticky mud, they cleaned him up before reuniting him with his family, eagerly waiting nearby. This was all necessary because the calf had been shot in the leg and needed treatment.

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As we approached, we witnessed a heartbreaking sight – an elephant mother was frantically trying to pull her baby out of the thick mud. Despite her valiant efforts, she could not free the calf from the sticky trap.

Without hesitation, we waded into the muck to lend a helping hand. Our efforts eventually paid off, and the two were joyfully reunited. Such heartwarming reunions are a common occurrence in our line of work.

The unwavering bond between a mother and her young is genuinely remarkable and serves as a reminder of the dire circumstances that lead to orphaned animals.

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Our mission is to do everything in our power to ensure that these families are reunited whenever possible, resulting in countless happy endings over the years.

The incident in Ithumba a few weeks back reminds me of how dedicated and committed our team is to helping needy animals.

Upon noticing the calf’s predicament, we immediately contacted our team in Ithumba. Despite it being late at night, they quickly sprang into action, determined to rescue the stuck calf safely.

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However, before commencing the rescue mission, they had to move the calf’s protective family from the scene.

They drove the water bowser up to the trough with the utmost care, causing the rest of the herd to retreat reluctantly, except for the calf’s mother, who stood her ground to protect her baby.

As I watched everything unfold through the camera from Nairobi, my heart went out to this brave mother.

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In due time, the calf’s mother had to leave, and the team had to act quickly before the herd returned. The task was daunting as a night operation in Tsavo was risky, especially with an agitated group of elephants nearby.

Nevertheless, our Keepers braved the darkness to rescue the calf. With her small size, only two people were needed to lift her out.

Once on the ground, the calf darted towards her family while the team kept watch until they saw she was safe with them.

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The reunion was touching as the mother and nannies huddled around the calf to ensure she was unhurt. Before leaving, the calf’s mother turned back to acknowledge the team.

We share similarities with elephants as we have strong family ties and deeply feel emotions. It is humbling to be able to protect and preserve these remarkable families.

Read more Elephant News.

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