An ever-growing movement of grass roots level, community focused conservation is gaining huge momentum in Northern Kenya, and a new wave of wildlife protection is emerging.

Once heavily poached and severely degraded by instability, the northern rangeland is now restoring itself through transparent, self-governed community conservancies that promote the preservation of natural resources in order to create stability, employment and revenue

Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in Samburu County of Northern Kenya is home to the first community owned elephant sanctuary in Africa.

The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was officially opened by the Samburu County Governor, H.E Moses Lenolkulal, on the 20th August 2016.

Designed to rescue and release orphaned and abandoned elephant calves, whilst creating much needed benefits to the local people that live alongside them. The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the representation of the communities standing up united for wildlife, in recognition of the value that they can cultivate.

The orphaned elephants that are cared for by the Samburu community are symbols of a new wave of thinking about wildlife and the environment that goes far beyond traditional conservation methods, and dives deeper into the core value of what nature represents.

Opportunities are being created, livelihoods are improving, and wildlife is returning – proving that nature can provide a sustainable economy for the populations that occupy this magnificent ecosystem.

On a fast-developing continent where space is at a premium, the Samburu community that occupy the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy is reversing the trends and securing their wilderness landscapes, returning to a learned, age- old history of wildlife tolerance and coexistence. Read an interview that one of our partners, Conservation International, conducted with Reteti Elephant Sanctuary co-founder Katie Rowe to learn how we’re making a difference for elephants and communities.

The nomadic pastoralists have occupied this land for over two centuries. In an unprecedented move for wildlife conservation on community owned land, the communities have come together, united for wildlife.

Meet the Elephants

Kapai

Upon Shaba’s release, Kapai stepped up to fill the shoes of Reteti’s matriatch. She cares and soothes all the new baby elephant arrivals as if they were her own.
AGE WHEN RESCUED: 1 Month
GENDER: Female
RESCUE DATE: 18 January 2018
REASON ORPHANED: Human Wildlife Conflict
Long'uro

Long’uro lost a portion of his trunk to hyenas while stuck in a well. He has defeated all the odds and adjusted to life with a short trunk. He is a kind and caring big brother.
AGE WHEN RESCUED: 1 Month
GENDER: Male
RESCUE DATE: 18 April 2020
REASON ORPHANED: Well
Lomunyak

Lomunyak is known as lucky boy. He was swept away in a flood and whilst in the river, attacked by a crocodile. He and Long’uro have become best friends and are inseparable.
AGE WHEN RESCUED: 2 Months
GENDER: Female
RESCUE DATE: 26 April 2020
REASON ORPHANED: Flood