Meet Bawa, a tiny wonder at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary located in Kenya. This sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants. Bawa is just one of the many success stories of this amazing place.

Upon arrival, little Bawa was in a critical state, hovering between life and death. We estimated he was no more than two weeks old. He had been submerged in mud near Maralal for an extended period and was emaciated, dehydrated, and frightened. His eyes were sore from 12 hours of staring up at the sun, and his skin was peeling. He had ingested a considerable amount of mud, which left him gravely ill. After a veterinarian examination, we were informed that we had received a baby elephant who was already deceased. The vet believed that Bawa’s condition was so severe that there was no hope for recovery.

Nonetheless, the doctor’s assessment failed to account for Bawa’s remarkable resilience and endearing personality that has won over both animals and humans alike at Reteti. Despite the doctor’s diagnosis, our committed team sprang into action to rescue Bawa, tirelessly working around the clock for two days straight. Bawa was given oxygen and placed on an IV drip.

The dedicated and caring team at Reteti worked tirelessly for several weeks to nurse Bawa back to health. Even the elephants at the facility contributed to his recovery. Once strong enough, Bawa was gradually introduced to the herd under the watchful eye of Shaba, who took him under her wing. The bond between Bawa and Shaba grew stronger with each passing day. We are thrilled to report that Bawa has made an astounding recovery, and is now a robust and playful seven-month-old. He loves nothing more than playing in the mud hole with his friend Pokot, where they often tumble and roll around together. Bawa’s amazing success story is one that we are proud to share.