The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) works at a field level in Kenya for the protection and conservation of wildlife and wild habitats. Africa’s wildlife is being pushed to the brink of extinction. The lucrative illegal ivory trade is killing up to 70 elephants a day, human-wildlife conflict is leaving behind injured and orphaned wild animals that would not survive without intervention and habitat destruction is endangering important biodiversity areas.
The DSWT adopts a multi-faceted approach to conversation and our teams work at a field level every day to put an end to poaching in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service, preserve endangered habitats and rescue and care for injured animals so that they can return to the wild.
Established 40 years ago, the DSWT is best known for the successful rescue and rehabilitation of infant orphaned elephants and rhinos, so that they can live a life back in the wild when grown. Today, more than 200 orphaned elephants are living a full wild life, and we know of at least 25 babies that have been born in the wild to orphans once raised by the DSWT. The safety of these elephants, their wild kin and all wild species is a priority and we ensure this through the deployment of 10 fully mobile, trained Anti-Poaching Teams, an Aerial Unit comprising five fixed wing aircraft and two rapid response helicopters, a Canine Tracking Unit, four Mobile Veterinary Teams and investment into tried and tested conservation practices including electric fencing, water provision, and critically education programmes and community engagement projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of those living alongside wildlife.