News and Updates

R.I.P Daphne Sheldrick

24th April, 2018 09:58:03

Kenyan elephant conservationist Daphne Sheldrick has died of cancer aged 83.

Image credit: www.thelily.com

Daphne Sheldrick — appointed Dame Daphne Sheldrick by Queen Elizabeth in 2006 — died from breast cancer on April 12th at the age of 83. Ms. Sheldrick was a British subject born and raised in Kenya, and spent the first half of her career working alongside her British husband David for the conservation and betterment of Kenya's largest national park, Tsavo East.

After David's death in 1977, Ms. Sheldrick founded the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), which is best known for rescuing and reintegrating orphaned elephants into the wild. It was through this world-renowned charity where Ms. Sheldrick developed a special milk formula to bottle-feed baby elephants who couldn't be fed by their own mothers.

Ms. Shelrick made it her mission to tell the world about the intelligence, protective instincts and remarkable memories of elephants. She loved these creatures, and worked tirelessly care for them and do her best to save their waning populations during her lifetime.

She was highlighted in an article in Smithsonian Magazine in 2005 called "35 Who Made A Difference." In the article, the magazine wrote: "Elephants don't forget. Her face and voice will live in the memory of many a hand-reared orphan for decades as they roam the parklands of East Africa, trumpeting their freedom."