Rescuing Leitemu, a five-day-old baby giraffe

When we first laid eyes on Leitemu, this long-legged wonder was just five days old – so tiny that his umbilical cord was still attached.

Rangers, keeping a watchful eye, found him wandering alone in the wild, dehydrated and in desperate need of help. They acted quickly, ensuring this fragile calf made it to safety with the incredible support of Reteti’s Rescue Team and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), whose partnership is essential in every rescue we undertake.

We named him Leitemu after the area where he was found, a tribute to the place that gave him his first breath of life.

Despite everything, Leitemu was unbelievably calm, almost as if he knew we were here to help. The moment he arrived at the sanctuary, he took to the bottle without hesitation, and we’re thrilled to share that this brave boy is thriving!

Why do giraffes like him get separated?

In the wild, giraffes leave their young in small nursery groups with other calves while they go looking for food. In our drier seasons, they naturally have to travel further to find nourishment. The wait can sometimes lead to separation, as curious calves, like Leitemu, wander off.

But whenever this happens, our doors – and our hearts – are wide open, ready to support these vulnerable babies and give them the care they need until they’re ready to return to the wild.

Reticulated Giraffe, like Leitemu, are only found in the semi-arid regions of Northern Kenya, Somalia, and southern Ethiopia.

Update on Leitemu, 10 days after his rescue

Little Leitemu is settling in beautifully, with a bit of guidance (and a whole lot of love) from his new family. He’s learning the ropes from the best role models around, growing stronger and standing a little taller every day.

They say it takes a village, and here at Reteti, that village includes both wild and human friends. And with friends like these to look up to, it’s easy to grow stronger and stand a little taller each day!

Way to go Leitemu!

It takes a village!

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