Sheldrick Wildlife Trust News

In September, the Aerial Unit flew 241 hours and covered 32,985 kilometres. For most of the month the dry season held Tsavo in its familiar late-season grip — parched, open country, with wildlife and livestock alike pressed in around the last permanent water. This is traditionally the most dangerous time of year for fire.

When friends way up in Samburu called us about a mum and baby elephant trapped in mud, we knew we had to help. We have unique expertise in this kind of rescue operation — last year alone, our Aerial Unit helped extract 17 elephants from similar predicaments.

By dawn’s early light on the morning of 21st October 2026, our Ithumba Keepers saw a mother and nanny shepherding a tiny calf towards the stockades. As they drew closer, they realised it was Chyulu surprising us with a newborn baby girl! In keeping with the ‘Ch’ family, we named her Chili.

Poppi is a lovely little elephant who is carrying on the legacy of her mother — Poppy, a famous matriarch who reigned over Amboseli for more than five decades.

150 seconds — that’s how long this treatment took, from first rope to finish. In fact, it happened so quickly that we slowed down the footage to see!