Meet the elephants who are graduating from Reteti
13 elephants will soon return to the wild.
With the preparations for our fourth release of elephant orphans well underway, we’re thrilled to finally share their names!
After being successfully rehabilitated at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, 13 elephants are ready to take their next steps to return to their natural habitat in Namunyak’s 850,00-acre wilderness – and we can’t wait to tell you more as their journey back home starts to unfold…
To all our wonderful Foster Parents who have adopted one of the elephants on the list below; you will continue to receive updates from the field and our reintegration unit!
01.
Lemorijo
MALE
Quiet and confident is how we’ll describe Lemorijo - the oldest elephant here at Reteti. Rescued at the age of 2 months after being separated from his Mama, this brave young bull arrived at the sanctuary late in 2017. He quickly became best friends with Sarara (the two are inseparable to this day!), and Sarara is also part of the group that will soon be released. Amos Leleruk, our head keeper, has a soft sport Lemorijo, and is so proud of how independent and strong he’s become.
Photo: Simon Pocock
02.
Kapai
FEMALE
Fighting very hard to survive after being found stranded and alone when she lost her Mama at the age of just 1 month, Kapai has grown into such a formidable leader. She succeeded Shaba as the matriarch of the Reteti herd, taking care of the sanctuary’s new arrivals with so much love that you could have mistaken these calves as her own! We’re incredibly proud of the leader she’s become – and Kapai is so patient, caring and calm.
Photo: Simon Pocock
03.
Sere
MALE
After being separated from his Mama, Sere arrived at Reteti in May 2019 at the age of 18 months. Throughout his time at the sanctuary, his growing friendships with fellow orphans like Lorian, Kikwar and Hamsini was at the heart of his daily activities, and such a profound part of his recovery too! We are very proud of how bush savvy they have become – and in so many clever ways!
Photo: Ami Vitale
04.
Olpejeta
MALE
Rescued after his Mama suffered an injury, Olpejeta joined the Reteti herd right in the middle of a very muddy season in July 2019 – and we still remember how he was completely covered in mud! In fact, everyone in his rescue team also ended up pretty muddy, as well as the airplane that brought him to our doorstep that day. Olpejeta is quite mischievous – in the best possible way! Over the years, he’s been nothing but a joy, yet despite being so noticeable (and a tad naughty too!), he also appreciates some space and keeping to himself at times. We love how these two sides of him keep balancing themselves out – and how he’s been like this since day 1.
Photo: Ami Vitale
05.
Metumi
FEMALE
Left orphaned after her Mama tragically passed due to human-wildlife conflict, we welcomed Metumi at Reteti in June 2019 – and it’s been wonderful to watch her develop and grow! One of the most striking things about Metumi is her incredible energy – and she has this rare willingness and capacity to share her beautiful spirit with other beings too. As the last of the big herd to break away and claim her independence, it was quite touching how Metumi seemed to hold onto the special contact she had with the keepers – before finally growing into the quiet strength she’s exhibiting today.
Photo: Ami Vitale
06.
Lorian
FEMALE
After being separated from her herd, an incredibly malnourished and weak Lorian was rescued and brought to Reteti in October 2019 – starting her journey of healing and recovery, and a new lease on life. It’s been incredible to see her not only gain weight and strength but also confidence and joy – and oh, what a ball of energy she is! When the gates open in the mornings, Lorian doesn’t waste a minute to get out into the bush, and she absolutely loves her natural habitat. Her eagerness to wake up and leave the boma is such a healthy part of her rewilding story, as is her strong sense of self!
Photo: Simon Pocock
07.
Meibae
MALE
After his Mama passed away due to natural causes, Meibae was found wandering the wilderness alone, before being rescued and arriving at Reteti at the age of only 9 months. Right from the start, his playful personality caught everyone’s eyes, and he quickly settled in with the rest of the herd! You could easily spot him with his long tusks and a tiny piercing in his left ear. At times, he can be a bit strong-headed, and try to establish his dominance by pushing some of the other ellies around. But thankfully, Sesia – one of his best friends – is calm & steady, and helps him to keep his cool!
Photo: Simon Pocock
08.
Sarara
MALE
After being found by Samburu warriors when he got stuck in a well, Sarara – who is from our home range – arrived on our doorstep as a little 4-month-old calf. Soon becoming well integrated in the herd, he likes to stick with his best friend Lemorijo, who is about to be released too. These two love testing their strength on each other, which bodes well for their new chapter ahead! One of the things that’s endeared us most to Sarara here at Reteti is the cute noises he makes while sucking his trunk. It’s so special that other ellies even started to imitate him!
Photo: Simon Pocock
09.
Hamsini
FEMALE
Rescued from a well at the age of one, little Hamsini arrived at Reteti in May 2019 to start healing from her physical and emotional wounds. It’s been a long journey, but she’s recovered remarkably, and one of the best things about her rehabilitation is the close friendships that she has formed. Among them is her bond with Kikwar, who’ll also soon be released, and their camaraderie is especially precious as they’ve found so much comfort at each other’s sides. Whenever Kikwar is troubled, she’d turn to Hamsini for solace and calm – and it’s truly heartwarming to see them look out for one another!
Photo: Simon Pocock
10.
Kikwar
FEMALE
When she arrived at Reteti, the 9-month-old Kikwar had just been rescued after falling into a well – and she was in such a terrible state. It took weeks of dedicated comfort and care to help her recover, but this courageous young orphan pulled through and today, she’s one of the leading elephants in the herd. Always on the move, she’s also gentle in spirit and playful in personality, and Kikwar keeps us all on our toes! She’ll no doubt do well in her natural habitat, as she’s continuously impressed us with her knowledge and understanding of the bush.
Photo: Simon Pocock
11.
Kelele
MALE
After Kelele and his Mama were sadly separated, this sweet calf was thankfully rescued and brought to our care in April 2020. While his name refers to noise and chaos, nothing about Kelele is loud at all! He’s actually the epitome of peace and calm – and doesn’t like to spend time with the more boisterous elephants, so you'll never find him near any of the notorious ‘nonsense-makers’! We love that he’s so kind and gentle – and pretty clever too. This smart and sensible chap is wise beyond his years, and makes sure that he never gets into trouble.
Photo: Ami Vitale
12.
Kone
FEMALE
Orphaned when her Mama – Cleopatra – sadly passed away due to natural causes, Kone was a year old when she arrived at Reteti, and we immediately pulled out all the stops to care for this grief-stricken calf. She soon settled in so well at Reteti that she was described by her new family as a lovely character. Becoming a friend to all the keepers, she was always the first and fastest orphan to arrive for her bottle! We are so proud of her progress and love how her courage made her overcome so much sadness and pain.
13.
Sesia
MALE
Arriving at Reteti in January 2020, we welcomed Sesia into our care after he was separated from his Mama – and he’s been such an important part of the herd ever since! With his integrity and strength of character, he’s the most grounding influence on the other elephants – and calmly helps them to organise their emotions along the way. It's an incredible gift, given that elephants have complex thoughts and deep emotions! As one of Meibae’s best friends, it’s been so interesting to observe how the two differ in character, yet Sesia’s sensible, calm presence is just what strong-headed Meibae sometimes needs! They make a really good pair and we think they’ll do well staying together on their journey ahead.
Photo: Ami Vitale
Thank you for following our elephants’ release stories.
We look forward to sharing their journey back to the wild with you. Our next blogs include how we know an elephant is ready for release and an explanation of the various stages of release.
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