It is an all-too-common situation during a drought: In their quest for water, elephants venture into drying dams. One slip turns into a treacherous situation, as they become hopelessly stuck in the mud. Confronted with slick floors and sticky mud, elephants are unable to propel themselves to standing. Without help, it turns into a death trap.
Established in 1977, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) operates the world’s most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program, rescuing and hand-rearing orphaned elephants and other animals that have lost their mothers, all too often as a result of human activity. But we do much more than this.
Through our Aerial, Anti-Poaching and Mobile Veterinary Units, we safeguard the natural environment and provide immediate assistance to wild animals in need.
We also secure irreplaceable wilderness areas so that animals will always have space to roam and work with local partners and communities to ensure people and wildlife can live alongside one another.
