KENYA


The Samburu people care for the animals and their land


Keeper Naomi looks after one of the calves


Transforming lives >omi Ü>à Ìhi wÀÃÌ vim>li kii«iÀ Ìo Li im«loÞi` >Ì the sanctuary and she has been caring for the orphans ÃinVi Ìhi VinÌÀi o«ini` in Óä£È° -hi Ìillà mi hoÜ i>Vh ov Ìhi £Èä kii«iÀà h>il vÀom >mÕnÞ>k


onÃiÀÛ>nVÞ


and are hugely committed to the elephants’ welfare, so much so they rarely take days off and work around the clock to make sure the animals are fed and cared for. And it’s not just the staff who make the work of ,iÌiÌi «oÃÃiLli q ->À>À> oÕn`>Ìion½Ã


ilk Ìo >ÀkiÌ


«Ào}À>mmi h>à in>Lli` £]Ónä ->mLÕÀÕ Üomin Ìo }iniÀ>Ìi ÌhiiÀ oÜn inVomi voÀ Ìhi wÀÃÌ Ìimi LÞ «ÀoÛi`in} milk from their goats to feed the orphans. Across the conservancy, more than 2,000 litres of milk from 10,000 }o>Ìà >Ài «ÀoÛi`i` LÞ Ìhi >vviVÌion>ÌilÞ n>mi` ilk >m>à iÛiÀÞ `>Þ] >n` Ìhi «Ào}À>mmi ià o«iÀ>Ìi` ÜiÌh miliÌ>ÀÞ «ÀiViÃion° 7i ÛiÃiÌ Ìhi l>À}iÃÌ VolliVÌion «oinÌ] where some women walk for miles to drop off their milk, which is recorded, tasted, then loaded onto a vehicle to be taken to the sanctuary, before being pasteurised and fed to the elephants 24 hours later. 7i½Ài Ìol` Ìhi


>m>Ã ÕÃi ÌhiiÀ inVomi Ìo «>Þ ÃVhool


The Milk Mamas deliver goat’s milk (left) every day


fees, support their families or open small kiosks to start their own businesses, with the programme seeing such success that more and more women want to be part of it. Hearing how the initiative has transformed these women’s worlds, delivering independence for perhaps Ìhi wÀÃÌ Ìimi in ÌhiiÀ liÛiÃ] ià noÌhin} ÃhoÀÌ ov inëiÀin}°


Extraordinary stories


The same can be said for Naomi, whose relationship with the elephants is captivating. The love she, and the other keepers, have for the animals is unmistakable, and watching her interact with the orphans is soul-stirring. >omi h>à > «>ÀÌiVÕl>ÀlÞ Ã«iVi>l Lon` ÜiÌh


on}½ÕÀo] >


baby elephant who was rescued in 2020 at just a month old after a hyena attack claimed two-thirds of his trunk. Thanks to the love and dedication of the Reteti team, the calf has adapted well to life as a differently abled elephant, becoming proof that enduring spirit, and the right care, is all you need to thrive. As I watch him play with the ÀiÃÌ ov Ìhi hiÀ`]


viil moÛi`° on}½ÕÀo ià > ÃÞmLol ov


hope – much like the sanctuary he calls home, which is paving the way for fairer, community-led conservation.


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JANUARY 2026 ASPIRE


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*hoÌo}À>«hÞÆ /hi}i jÕ}Õn>Æ -imon *oVoVkÆ /hi ->À>À> oÕn`>Ìion


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