Muridjo

A passing glance could have easily missed the elephant hiding in the bushes on Ol Malo. She was small and determined to remain camouflaged. And yet she had been there for several days, trying to fend for herself but desperately vulnerable.This was the peak of the 2022 drought, which held much of Kenya in its grips. Laikipia was hit particularly hard, creating a crisis situation for its resident elephant population. We cannot be certain how this calf came to be orphaned, but the drought certainly played a role.Elephants are particularly susceptible to drought. As vegetation disappears, they are unable to consume enough to sustain themselves — and lactating mothers, who are feeding for two, struggle the most. If they do not succumb to drought conditions first, many stop producing milk and are forced to leave their babies behind. Drought also creates an uptick in human-wildlife conflict, as competition over dwindling resources intensifies.Once it became clear that the calf was indeed an orphan, KWS green lit a rescue. On the morning of 15th September, a team of Keepers flew up to Laikipia in a Cessna Caravan. Meanwhile, Ol Malo handled logistics on the ground, capturing the calf and driving her to the airstrip. The operation was carefully choreographed, so the plane landed just as its precious cargo arrived.