A day we’ll never forget: our release herd’s permanent return to the wild!
The release herd departing their boma in the bush.
It may have felt like any other morning to these 13 elephants, but to us, Release Day’s significance was beyond compare! It was a beautiful confluence of endless passion, years of unwavering dedication, and an entire community’s commitment to see these orphans returned to the land of their birth!
Born and rescued from this ancient landscape – which is as much part of them as they are of it – these elephants were not only being rewilded; they were returning home. To mark this poignant moment in time, their keepers as well as our inspiring Milk Mamas, Rangers, Samburu Elders, and community members came from far and wide to pray for the release and welcome the herd back to Namunyak’s wilderness.
There couldn’t have been a more touching tribute to their journey, with those at the heart of Reteti’s success all present to commemorate the remarkable event – from the orphans’ caretakers, to the Mamas whose nutritious goat milk filled their bottles daily, to the Rangers ensuring their safety, and the community who stands united behind their conservation and wellbeing!
It was also such an honour to share this meaningful day with Samburu’s elders, whose visionary plans for our sustainable future led to the establishment of both Namunyak Community Conservancy and Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Ultimately, the day was a profound testament to the meaning of Namunyak’s name in Samburu – as it truly is our Place of Peace!
Watch: Milk Mamas singing in celebration as they arrive for the release.
Watch: The community and keepers praying before the release
A joint journey
In the six to seven years that we’ve cared for these courageous elephants, they’ve won our hearts, our respect, and our lifelong devotion! It was hard to say goodbye without being flooded by a rollercoaster of feelings – from excitement to sadness, and from sorrow to hope! But overall, a sense of gratitude enveloped us all.
We were privileged to get to know each of these remarkable beings, and our time together has been filled with profound experiences right from the start. Throughout all the laughter and tears, hardship and healing, these extraordinary elephants taught us more about life than any textbooks ever could – and we’re all better people because they’ve become part of our world!
A beautiful new beginning
Since the release herd has stepped out into the wilderness for good, it's been wonderful to witness them joining a wild herd of 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. Look out for our next blog, in which we’ll share more about the keepers, guardians, community members, and technologies behind our multi-pronged monitoring approach!
Visit our one-stop hub at reteti.org/release for all the highlights, behind-the-scenes peeks, and information about this historical release.
Did you know that you can still adopt one of the foster elephants who form part of this release herd? As a foster parent, you’ll join your orphan elephant’s ‘human family’ worldwide, and support their vital ongoing monitoring to ensure their safety and wellbeing ahead. You’ll also receive regular updates and inside info on their progress in the wild!
