In the heart of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery, a touching scene unfolds as vibrant blankets drape trees, fences, and enclosures, providing comfort to orphaned elephants.
Laundered with care, these blankets are pivotal in offering solace and protection to vulnerable elephant orphans as they navigate their rehabilitation journey.
Unlike their wild counterparts, orphaned elephants at the Nairobi Nursery lack the natural shelter of herds and mothers, leaving them exposed to changing weather conditions and the threat of pneumonia.
The kaleidoscopic blankets step in as surrogate warmth and protection, mirroring the shelter these young ones would find in the wild under the protective embrace of their herds.
The dedicated keepers at the nursery employ these blankets strategically to ensure the well-being of the orphans.
Specially designed raincoat blankets, waterproof on the outside and soft on the inside, shield the young elephants from rain, with keepers even holding umbrellas during heavy downpours.
The blankets also play a crucial role in feeding, especially for hesitant orphans.
R blankets are strategically placed in stockades or between trees, recreating the natural bonding during wild feeding, mimicking a surrogate mother’s warm body.
Behind the blanket, a keeper discreetly offers a milk bottle, emulating the comforting environment the orphans would experience in the wild.
While these blankets are essential for nurturing infant elephants, some orphans form strong attachments to their ‘blanky.’
Similar to human children, they engage in fiddling, sucking, and playing with their blankets, finding solace in the fabric’s representation.
Yet, the weaning process becomes necessary, gently guiding the orphans to relinquish their attachment as they mature and prepare for reintroduction to the wild.
These blankets at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery extend beyond providing physical warmth; they become emotional anchors for the orphaned elephants.
These blankets’ careful and creative use underscores the keepers’ dedication to recreating a nurturing environment, ensuring the orphans receive the love and care necessary to overcome the challenges on their journey to becoming wild and independent elephants in Tsavo National Park.
