Milk for Orphaned Elephant Babies

There are still enormous amounts of money made in Africa from poaching. The results are fatal. Baby elephants in particular lose their mothers and often suffer painful deaths by starvation.

Wildlife rescue stations can save their lives if they have a milk replacer at their disposal which is appropriate for elephants. Up to now, however, exactly this was one of the biggest problems in the rescue of orphaned young elephants. The Akademie has thus been working since 2015 to develop this very special “baby food”. Successfully, as shown in the cooperation with the NGO Kilimanjaro Animal C.R.E.W. which has established a rescue station on the Makoa farm near Arusha in Tanzania. Veterinarians Elisabeth Stegmaier and Dr. Dr. Laszlo Paizs co-founded the NGO and have made it their mission in life to protect the fascinating African wildlife

Their report:

“On October 10, 2017, we received an emergency call that an abandoned elephant calf had found its way alone to a ranch in Ndarakwai, West Kilimanjaro. It had become separated from its herd and was injured.

The calf had followed the calls of the young elephant cow “Riziki”, which also had been found as an orphan on the Ndarakwai Ranch and then raised and taken care of by a team of trained rangers.

The elephant calf was in very poor condition and we were asked to help it and to tend to its wounds.

Of course we set off immediately for the ranch. Our luggage contained emergency equipment for medical treatment and the blowpipe in order to tranquilize the animal.

In addition, we were bringing along a large amount of elephant milk replacer from the Akademie für Zoound Wildtierschutz e.V. because a circa 15-month-old elephant baby still urgently requires milk.

Although the little bull was injured it was also extremely weak and first had to be pepped up again with the milk substitute.We were very pleased that he accepted it happily and seemed to tolerate it well.

Just a week later we were able to tranquilize the calf and treat its wounds. A second treatment followed a week later. A few months have already passed since the rescue operation and the young bull is developing splendidly. It tolerated the milk powder very well the entire time and has grown substantially. Meanwhile, we have already received the second generous delivery of milk from the Akademie and there are still no problems or intolerance of any sort.

Riziki and the little “Ndarakwai”, as it is called by its caretakers, have become inseparable. The calf now has the ideal conditions for healthy growth, thanks to the specially produced milk powder and Riziki’s social support. We are very grateful to the Akademie for their ever-present and generous support with elephant milk powder, medicine and expert advice.”

The Akademie will continue to support both veterinarians and their NGO. ■