This past September I was fortunate to travel to northern Kenya and thrilled to have a long-awaited visit to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Situated in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in Samburu County, the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was established in 2016. This safe haven for orphaned elephants is the first community owned elephant sanctuary in Kenya. (As I was more focused on learning and watching the elephants, I did not carry may camera. So, what follows are some shots I grabbed with my iPhone.)

Elephants are highly sociable and their emotional well-being is dependent on them having a family unit they can interact with and count on. The baby elephants that are rescued by Reteti become part of a larger orphaned elephant family. They are cared for 24 hours a day by their dedicated keepers. Healthcare and nutrition are paramount at Reteti. Nutritionists at the sanctuary have successfully created a goat milk formula that is highly digestible and rich in protein–perfect for their energetic residents! The formula is enhanced with additional supplements based on the individual needs of each elephant. This formula also provides necessary resources for the local Samburu farming community who supply the goat milk.

Community and Conservation

On my recent visit I was fortunate to spend time with Katie Rowe, the co-founder of the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Katie shared Namunyak’s grassroots and community-focused conservation mandate of preserving the natural resources of the conservancy, while also providing employment and revenue to the local Samburu people. It is a model that works and one that gave rise to the creation of the sanctuary. Reteti’s overarching objective is to rescue orphaned or abandoned elephants and then return them to the community land they were born on.

Katie also explained the financial challenges of running the orphanage. Feeding and providing healthcare for 40+ elephants is a monumental undertaking! It has been made more challenging by the current drought that has seriously impacted this area of Kenya. The elephants drink close to 10,000 bottles of milk a month! That comes at a cost of almost $100,000. The financial commitment required to offer the best possible care relies heavily on the generosity of private donors.

An Introduction by a Mutual Friend

During my conversation with Katie I was gobsmacked (there is no other word) to find out she recognized me. It turns out she was a fan of my dog Pluto and a member of the Plutoverse! It was quite an emotional moment for me to realize that Pluto had connected me to this remarkable woman–on the other side of the world–who was dedicated to saving elephants. For those of you reading this who discovered my photography through Pluto, I do not think I have to tell you how profound, and yet, not at all surprising it was to me, that my buddy orchestrated this very special meeting. She had a plan…

Long’uro and his New Normals

I thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning about the Reteti elephants. It was also fun to meet the resident giraffes that are being cared for at the sanctuary and having a 2-week old Gerenuk seek me out and give me a kiss on the cheek! I was particularly impressed with the tour of the kitchen. My gratitude goes out to the caregivers and staff who generously took the time to explain their work. I left hopeful for the future–and determined to help.

It was meeting a very spunky and courageous orphan named Long’uro, that I came to believe Pluto may have had a spiritual paw in guiding me to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. In the Samburu language, Long’uro means “something that has been cut.” In the case of this feisty young elephant, it refers to his little trunk. Long’uro was rescued after falling into a well. He was one month old. While he struggled to keep himself alive, a passing hyena bit off two-thirds of his trunk. While his story might have ended there, it did not! Against all odds, but thanks to the determination of the Reteti team to give him every chance, Long’uro survived! He will soon be three years old.

Some say Long’uro  is a “special needs” elephant. When I met this determined little fellow, he was having his bottle. Once he had chugged that back, he moved on to his pellets. (Because he cannot yet use his truck to forage, the pellets are a supplement to his diet.) He used his trunk to maneuver his treats, arranging them so it was easier to push them in his mouth. Watching his determination–and success–at eating his snack, it occurred to me that Long’uro was adapting to his “new normals” and living his best life! I could not stop smiling at this enthusiastic young elephant with his ears flapping and his abbreviated trunk, enjoying his food. I do believe there was a certain little spirit with me on my shoulder, cheering him on!

Collective Compassion for Reteti

If you followed me, or Pluto, during these past couple of years, you are likely aware of the various fundraising initiatives that she rallied her friends to help with. She was a champion of collective compassion and believed in the power of her Plutoverse peeps. Pluto and I shared a love of elephants–she spoke about them on more than one occasion. I knew when I met Long’uro he was a kindred spirit to Pluto. She would have compared his trunk to her own wobbly legs–nothing more than one of life’s new normals to adapt to. She would have said; “Mom, he has a great supportive family to help him keep living his best life!” And, WHOA–she most certainly would have been impressed with his snacking technique!

I know  there are many of you reading this who will help make a difference in the life of Long’uro and his extended elephant family! This dedicated and essential sanctuary relies heavily on donations from people like us. People who care about wildlife and want to be part of making a difference. There are many ways you can help. You can buy them milk. Or,  adopt one of the Reteti elephants? Every donation, large and small, will help continue to provide a safe and nurturing home for these elephants. If you are not in a financial position to donate, you can be an ambassador for the elephants, sharing their stories and encouraging others to help.

Tell Them Pluto Sent You!

These past two years I have witnessed first-hand the incredible difference a small community can make through collective compassion. I hope you will join me and support Long’uro and his family at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary! Help them all live their very best lives. They are our future.