A young orphaned elephant calf, estimated to be just 3 to 4 months old, was found alone and vulnerable beneath a tree at Hilton Hotels’ Taita Hills Sanctuary. Without her mother’s milk, the calf faced a bleak chance of survival in the wild.
Sanctuary staff carefully monitored her as she tried to join nearby elephant herds throughout the day but was repeatedly left behind due to her weakened condition.
Recognizing the calf’s fragile state and the imminent danger posed by predators, the team decided urgent intervention was necessary.
Taita Hills Sanctuary, located southeast of the Taita Hills near the Kenya-Tanzania border, spans 28,000 acres owned and managed by Hilton Hotels International as a unique wildlife destination. The sanctuary borders Tsavo West National Park to the west and private ranchlands adjacent to Tsavo East National Park to the north.
Among its notable accommodations are Taita Hills Lodge, designed in the style of a German fort to honor World War I battles in the region, including the Battle of Salaita Hill, and Salt Lick Lodge, featuring stilted rondavels overlooking the Bura River and offering prime wildlife viewing. The James Stewart River House, named after the actor famous for A Tale of Africa, serves as a picturesque venue for barbecues and group gatherings.
In recent years, the sanctuary has faced challenges including neglect and a rise in poaching activities such as bushmeat snares. Elephant migrations between Tsavo West and East have become especially perilous, as illustrated by the young elephant Burra, who was nearly strangled by a wire snare. Increasing human encroachment on traditional migration routes has escalated conflicts between wildlife and local communities.
On the evening of November 27, the sanctuary’s Elephant Keepers and Mobile Veterinary Unit rescued the calf, whom they named Lualeni. She was rehydrated and fed before being transported to the Voi Stockades for the night.
At the Stockades, Lualeni found comfort and care from older orphan elephants like Icholta and Natumi, who took on nurturing roles as surrogate mothers.
The following day, Lualeni was airlifted to the Nairobi Nursery, where she quickly adapted to bottle feeding and bonded with her Keepers.
Initially, Lualeni showed signs of fatigue and limited interaction, raising concerns about possible brain damage. However, over the following months, she made a remarkable recovery—gaining strength, playing actively, and engaging positively with other young elephants. Her progress has been a heartening testament to resilience and the sanctuary’s dedicated care.