For over 50 years a woman has raised hundreds of orphaned elephants: their love is the greatest reward

Daphne Sheldrick was a unique person. About her we can say with certainty that she truly found her calling and enjoyed what she loved. She spent half a century helping her charges.

Daphne was born and studied in Kenya. From an early age, she felt her tremendous connection with nature. In the early 1950s, Daphne met David Sheldrick and realized she had found her soul mate.

By this time, David had already established the East Tsavo National Park in Kenya, which provided shelter and protection for all animals threatened by poachers. Gradually, the park grew and other animals besides elephants were introduced there. David and Daphne found support from locals and patrons from abroad.

Daphne had a special love and bond with the elephants. Many animals were personally bred and raised by this at first glance fragile woman. Daphne emphasized that elephants have a unique memory and can feel, like humans. She made many friends among these animals. The elephants truly treated Daphne with a special reverence.

“It’s good to be an elephant. The moment it is born, it is welcomed by its parents and the whole pack, and that is a lifelong bond. In the pack, elephants are surrounded by care 24 hours a day. That’s ideally how it should be in a perfect world.” Daphne Sheldrick

In the 1970s, Daphne’s husband died. She continued her spouse’s work with great love and dedication until the end of her life.

About 25 years ago, a baby elephant came to the shelter; at the time, Daphne had no helpers or caretakers.

“I feed them like human babys. When the baby was six months old, I had to leave because my daughter was getting married. And the baby died of grief.

Over the decades of its existence, East Tsavo National Park has become not only a sanctuary and a safe haven for wildlife, but also a true home and an affair of the heart for its staff. This is truly a place where people with big hearts have come together to save this world from cruelty and destruction, if only a little bit.

Daphne died 2018 at the age of 83.

“We can learn a lot from elephants. Their family relationships continue even after they die. Elephants come to the place where their loved one’s bones lie over the years, sometimes taking pieces of their bodies and carrying them away with them. You can feel their great love for each other.” Daphne Sheldrick

Source: tourister.com

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