@amivitale1
Ami VitaleElephant calves often stay with their mom for over a decade, which plays a crucial role in shaping their ability to survive. However, for those orphaned and brought to Reteti, the sanctuary acts as a surrogate family, providing the necessary support and guidance for new arrivals to learn to be wild so they can one day be released to join local herds. Learning how to bathe, find food, and avoid threats are fundamental aspects of an elephant's education. The dedicated keepers at Reteti play a pivotal role in this process, leading the young elephants to food sources and using shovels to cover them in mud to simulate natural behaviors. The older, most experienced calves often take on leadership and teaching roles much earlier than they would in the wild and. The orphans become a herd, albeit a small one, and their family bonds are strong. In this video, Long'uro uses his snout to strip eat twigs off a branch. Many people thought that an elephant missing so much of its trunk could not survive, but with the support of @RetetiElephants, Long'uro has grown on track with the other orphans and is pushing the boundaries in elephant conservation. Learn more about Reteti and how to support elephant conservation at the link in bio. Video by Ami Vitale. #conservation #wildliferescue #elephants #Kenya #community #grassroots
On the profile · Jan 19, 2024, 17:40