The Beauty of Becoming a Foster Parent for an Orphaned Baby Elephant

Image to the left is taken from The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust website

Recently, I met with one of our clients who took a trip to Kenya on an African family safari vacation back in 2006 and he shared with me some of the experiences, as well as materials, he received at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in the Tsavo National Park region of Kenya.

For those of you who are unaware of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, it’s an organization that was established in 1977 to save the lives of orphaned and injured elephants and rhinos in Kenya. Dedicated to the late David Sheldrick, the Trust’s invaluable conservation efforts assist orphaned wildlife, before releasing them back into their home—the wild.

Our client and his family were able to visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary after adopting an orphaned elephant through the trust. The baby elephant’s name was Lesanju, a female that was only four weeks old. Lesanju was found in a deep man-made hole, struggling to get out. It wasn’t until the Samburu people found Lesanju and brought her to the Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary that she had another chance to live.

Below is a look at Lesanju:

And here is a picture of our client’s Foster Parent Certificate:

One of my favorite items that our client received in turn for fostering Lesanju was a beautiful watercolor poster:

If you are interested in fostering an elephant through The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (which I strongly suggest!), then here is what you’ll get:

• A sense of purpose and joy for funding and supporting an orphaned animal that can now have a second chance thanks to you
• The exclusive opportunity to visit The David Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary to meet your fostered elephant and share your love with him / her
• A foster parent certificate accompanied by a profile and some photographs of your adopted elephant.
• Access to your elephant’s Keeper Diary, which are notes from the individual who is taking care of your elephant. These notes outline the progress of your fostered elephant and also contain pictures of the orphan through the weeks and months that it remains at the Sheldrick Sanctuary.

Interested in becoming a foster parent for an orphaned elephant? Wonderful! You can foster an elephant through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust website. It costs a minimum of $50 per year as the fostering fee. Click here to learn more or to submit your foster request.

Let us help you plan your trip to Kenya to visit your fostered elephant! Contact us via email at hoainfo@hillsofafrica.com or via phone at 800.940.9344.