The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a leading conservation organisation and one the oldest wildlife charities in Africa; it is utterly committed to the preservation, conservation and protection of nature.
The trust was established over 45 years ago and is most well-known for the Orphans’ Project, which was not only the first but also the most successful elephant rehabilitation and rescue programme in the world.
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the SWT’s field headquarters border Tsavo East National Park.
Challenges Facing Wildlife in Kenya
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is attempting to tackle a plethora of challenges that are currently facing Kenyan wildlife, including habitat destruction and poaching, via its pioneering field projects. The charity’s overarching mission is to enable humans and wildlife to live harmoniously now and in the future.
Many of these challenges are global, with humans and animals coming into conflict over food and space as human populations expand. In Kenya, these issues come from farms being constructed on elephant migratory routes and an increasing number of livestock being grazed within wildlife territory.
Supporters of the charity, such as Alasdair Babber Shah, know that the SWT works all across Kenya to ensure the survival of safe havens for the country’s wildlife. The trust protects elephants, rhinos and other wild species, while also working to conserve the diverse flora and ecosystems of the country’s very special habitats. Alasdair Shah recently adopted a male elephant called Pardamat after reading about his tragic story.
The SWT’s Projects
To address these challenges the SWT is undertaking a wide range of projects, such as the Orphans’ Project, aerial surveillance and Water for Wildlife. The latter involves working mainly in the Lamu Conservation Area and Tsavo Conservation Area, arid locations that suffer from drought and limited rainfall. Here, the SWT is providing temporary and permanent water sources to relieve the suffering of affected wildlife. So far, the charity has drilled 34 boreholes, provided eight water bowsers and distributed millions of litres of water as part of this project.
Raising Awareness
The work of the SWT has been featured in many television films and productions (as well as publications) over the years, which has been vital in raising awareness about the nature and plight of wild animals such as elephants and rhinos and how the trust is working hard to protect them. These cinematic and TV productions include Born to Be Wild (IMAX), The Elephant Who Found a Mom, How to Be a Wild Elephant, Elephant Diaries and Elephant Family & Me.