Kapai

About Kapai

• Gender: Female

• Age when rescued: 1 month

• Rescue date: 18 January 2018

• Rescue location: Sera Conservancy

• Reason orphaned: Human-wildlife conflict

• Release date: 21 June 2024

• Identifying feature: Lighter skin and beautiful, rounded ears

Kapai’s Rescue Story

Kapai joined us at only a month old, on the 18th of January 2018. She was found stranded and alone by the Sera Community rangers. It was suspected that she had lost her mother due to human wildlife conflict, as a carcass was found a few metres from her rescue point, the Kapai area. A brave little elephant, with such a fighting spirit, was then safely transported to Reteti. When she arrived she was very young and very weak and she immediately captured everyone’s hearts with her fighting spirit. 

Kapai at Reteti

Despite her calm exterior, Kapai is a firecracker, she fought incredibly hard to survive, and to overcome the difficulties of her youth. We knew Kapai would grow up to be a pivotal part of Reteti’s herd as she always learnt from the older ladies like Shaba. But, since Nchurai, Nadasoit and Shaba have left for Sera Conservancy to be rewilded in May 2020, it has gradually become apparent that the herd have been feeling the loss of their entire social network. This has left a need for a new leader who will carry the mantle treasure of wisdom. Kapai is now old enough to look after the new arrivals which she does with so much love and as if they were her very own calves.

Kapai is a very polite elephant calf. She is calm and quite the social butterfly. Like all the orphans, she had a tough start to life.  Nowadays she’s a bit of a Lady, noble and patient, with impeccable manners. Come feeding time, Kapai patiently waits for the younger elephants to drink their milk first, and goes in last for her bottle. She has one particular spot where she feeds by the keepers and she never drinks anywhere else. She spends her days with Lorian and Sera, who follow her around the sanctuary and during their daily bush walks.

Kapai in the Wild

Kapai – along with 12 other elephants in her herd – was released right here in Namunyak Community Conservancy on 21 June 2024. It’s been wonderful to witness them joining a herd of wild elephants on the slopes of the Mathews Mountains! The next step of our journey involves monitoring their progress and wellbeing in a variety of ways. As a foster parent to Kapai, you’ll support her vital ongoing monitoring – and receive regular updates and inside info on her forward strides in the wilderness! Read more about her release on our Release Hub.

Please note:
Multiple adoptions of individual elephants enable us to cover the costs of caring for all 46 elephants at Reteti; your contribution will help us cover the cost of milk, the keepers, veterinary cost and other essentials your elephant needs.