At the end of our trip, we spent a few hours at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This orphanage, run by Daphne Sheldrick and staff, is a place where many young elephants and rhinos are brought to be hand raised and eventually released into Tsavo National Park. When we arrived, the calves had been down at the mud hole and we waited expectantly on a small road for them to venture back up to their barns for the evening feedings. It wasn't long before they all came trotting by within an arms-length of us, anxiously headed in search of dinner. We met up with them again at the barn and watched as they hungrily sucked from their bottles.

It was clear that they had bonded with their human counterparts, who they spent 24-hours a day with. Their barns were clean and full of fresh bedding material. Housed in each area was a mattress for the comfort of their keeper and a blanket to be worn by the elephants.

I especially enjoyed meeting one special elephant. She was very curious, using her trunk to smell and give kisses. Wanting to nurse, she gladly enveloped my hand, suckling on my fingers. I spent quite a bit of time with this little one, making it more difficult to say goodbye when it came time for us to go. Learn more about the Sheldrick Trust and fostering an orphan elephant or rhino.

--Jolene zooguru@cox.net