13/06/2026
The morning after Zuri was rescued from the septic pit — she was starting to understand that she was finally safe.
This little orphan just joined our foster program! We’re sharing her story here in three parts, or you can read in full on her profile: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/zuri
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The Rescue of Zuri • Part 1/3
On 20 May 2026, Voi Safari Lodge reported that a young elephant calf had been discovered trapped inside a septic tank. That she had been found at all was a miracle: The calf very easily could have gone undetected until morning — at which point it probably would have been too late. Given her desperate circumstances, her herd had abandoned her and no elephants were anywhere to be seen.
After coordinating with the Kenya Wildlife Service, our Voi team gathered their rescue equipment and rushed to the scene. The tank was so dark and so deep that we struggled to make out the little elephant inside. Her small body was completely submerged, and she was flailing to keep her head above water. The team managed to loop ropes around her and hauled her to firm ground, where they cleaned her off.
Veterinarian Dr Limo assessed the calf’s condition. Miraculously, she appeared to be physically unharmed, although the traumatic ordeal had clearly left psychological scars. She needed to be fed, warmed up, and shown that she was safe and no longer alone.
Given the late hour and the complete lack of elephants in the area, KWS deemed a rescue necessary. The little elephant was driven to our nearby Voi stockades, where she was placed in a stockade surrounded by our orphans and given a bottle of milk. Sileita and Busara helped to calm her down by rumbling and touching her with their trunks.
We named her Zuri — a lovely Swahili word meaning ‘good.’
To be continued…
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Become part of Zuri’s journey and support her round-the-clock care through an adoption: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans/zuri
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© Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
