Orphaned Elephant Returns to Human Rescuers So She Can Introduce Them to Her Newborn Calf

A 14-year-old elephant remembered an amazing act of kindness that happened years before. Thanks to the kindness that she experienced when she was younger, Loijuk grew older and become a mother.

In 2006, at only 5 months old an orphaned elephant was found all alone and it was rescued by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) in Kenya. The SWT hand-raised her until she was old enough to be able to survive in the wild.

Loijuk often returns to the SWT’s Ithumba Stockades, even she now lives in the wild, but she never forgets her human caregivers.

Loijuk’s most recent visit at the beginning of September, however, marked a very special occasion: she had just given birth to a female calf and she wanted to introduce the baby to the SWT rescuers.

Loijuk was an orphan from the tender age of just five months. She was taken to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an organization in Kenya that is run by many caring people. They took her in, fed and cared for her as she grew older, and eventually released her back into the wild.

However, Loijuk wasn’t about to forget the humans who took such good care of her when she was a baby. Even though she has adapted very well to living in a natural setting, Loijuk goes back to visit with her caretakers once a month.

“It is so special to witness Loijuk welcome and encourage the interaction, inviting head Keeper Benjamin to enjoy her newborn baby, unperturbed by their shenanigans together, and to immediately see the joy this new life brings the whole Ithumba Unit of dependent orphans and ex-orphan’s alike,” writes the SWT staffers.

“Watching her heal, flourish and transition to a wild independent life again in the span of 14 years, surrounded by ex-orphans and wild elephant friends, and now to see her transform into a mother is the ultimate affirmation of a job well done.”

Loijuk stayed close to the sanctuary during the week that followed. It was as if she wanted the keepers to make sure her baby was healthy, so that is exactly what they did. They checked on her often to make sure that everything was well with her. They also supplemented her diet to make sure that she was getting enough nutrition during the dry season.

To support orphaned elephants being cared for by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, you can make a donation.

Photo credit: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Sources:
www.thedodo.com
www.apost.com
www.goodnewsnetwork.org
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org