Adopt Kimani & Siilai

Adopt our baby elephant and buffalo friends, for yourself, or as a gift for a loved one.

For a monthly donation of $5 or more, you will become a foster parent to Kimani & Siilai – supporting the keepers in caring for them while they are on their journey back to the wild.

Your monthly donation gets you exclusive access to Kimani & Siilai’s private album and stories, frequent photo, video, text, and email updates from their keepers, and will also get you automatic membership to The Herd – our global community of monthly supporters!

While all wildlife orphans at Reteti are deeply caring towards each other, it’s a special sight to see deep friendships developing between species – and in Kimani and Siilai’s case, it’s a bond that was forged right from the start!

Meet Kimani, the elephant

Gender: Male elephant
Age When Rescued: 3-4 weeks
Rescue Date: 12 February 2025
Rescue Location: Kalepo
Reason Orphaned: Fell into a well
Distinguishing Features: Unusually large ears, a pale-toned hide and a twisty trunk

  • It was a quiet February morning when Dr. Joseph Lolngojine, Reteti’s veterinarian, received the urgent call that a little elephant calf had fallen into a well in a remote area near Kalepo, and that the poor baby was in deep distress.

    Upon hearing the news, a plan immediately fell into place, and a team was dispatched to come to the calf’s rescue. On their arrival, they found that the baby had been trapped for hours – and was tired, frightened, but miraculously unharmed. Working carefully and gently, they lifted him out of the well and assessed his condition, and thankfully determined that he was stable.

    The immediate hope was to reunite the calf with his mother, so the team set to work to locate her and his herd. But despite extensive tracking efforts and multiple attempts, no signs of his family were found. It was then that the heartbreaking reality started setting in: the baby had been orphaned.

    Named Kimani – after one of the striking mountain peaks near the site of his rescue – this courageous little calf’s story is rooted in the land that first cradled him, and as the team transported him safely to Reteti, he carried it forward into the next chapter of his life.

    When he arrived at our doorstep soon after, our hearts melted as we welcomed him with open arms – and everyone marveled at this little one’s brave little spirit, right from the start…

  • Since arriving at Reteti, Kimani has gone from strength to strength – and we love watching him develop as he’s such a fast learner. Despite being so young, Kimani responds immediately when a keeper calls out his name, and when it’s feeding time, he’s so focussed on his milk bottles that not a single drop goes to waste!

    Kimani also adores taking some time out during the day for little naps in-between all the fun at the sanctuary, and you’ll often see him scouting around for soft patches of grass in the bush to lie down. However, that means he’s still full of beans by the time the sun sets, so at nighttime, he sometimes struggles to settle down! 

    One of the most delightful developments in Kimani’s journey is the special friendship he’s forged with Siilai – the little buffalo orphan who arrived at the sanctuary at the same time as him. Like two peas in a pod, they are almost inseparable, and Kimani is at his happiest with his buffalo buddy at this side!

    As the youngest elephant orphan here at Reteti, Kimani has drawn particular attention from some of the older female calves – especially Sera, Naisiriria, Nosaeen and Kalepo. Sera, in particular, has shown strong maternal behaviours toward Kimani, and she even tries to breastfeed him! Indicating a deep and intuitive bond between the two, it also highlights her strongly developed protective instinct.

    It’s so heartwarming to see these females regularly checking in on Kimani, as it once again affirms the incredible social intelligence and nurturing nature of elephants. What’s more, we are happy to report that these are clear signs that Kimani is already forming strong emotional bonds within the herd!

    Kimani may be small, but he carries such a quiet strength. And as a striking little bull with unusually large ears that flap with every step, his pale-toned hide truly sets him apart! We also love that he has a slightly twisted little trunk, which often curls up when he’s curious or just oh-so content with ellie-life.

    His personality is still blossoming as he’s discovering the world and carving out a path for himself (on his own terms!), but we’re already noticing a distinct calmness in his gaze – and the most amazing gentleness in the way he moves among others.

    Every day, as Kimani takes slow, steady steps on his journey of rehabilitation, he is surrounded by his new elephant family and wrapped in the love and care of Retetei’s dedicated keepers. It’s clear that this little calf from Mount Kimani is not just surviving – he is thriving.

    And the journey of this “Little Giant with the Big Story” is just beginning…

Meet Siilai, the buffalo

Gender: Male African buffalo
Age When Rescued: 1 week
Rescue Date: 28 February 2025
Rescue Location: Kirisia Forest, Maralal, Samburu County
Reason Orphaned: Abandoned
Distinguishing Features: A soft patch with missing hair on his forehead

  • Receiving an emergency call late one evening from Ranger Mike Lesil at Maralal Sanctuary in Samburu National Reserve, Reteti was alerted that a group of Samburu warriors reached out with the most surprising message! Returning to their lale (a traditional mobile homestead) deep in the Krisia Forest with their livestock that night, they noticed a little baby buffalo had integrated itself into their herd of cattle during the day…

    As they were planning to move on and rlocate the next day, they were deeply concerned for the wellbeing of the calf, and feared it would not be able to survive in the wilderness all on its own. That’s when they asked Ranger Lesil’s assistance to come to the baby buffalo’s rescue, and retrieve him from the forest.

    Without hesitation, Ranger Lesil contacted the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and launched a plan to help the little baby. Setting out into the night, he travelled to the forest to locate the buffalo, and safely transported him to Maralal Sanctuary. In the meantime, Reteti’s team was travelling by road, and the final step of the well-coordinated plan involving bringing the little one safely to our doorstep fell into place.

    Arriving at the sanctuary, this brave little buffalo was welcomed with open arms and hearts. Reteti’s veterinarian, Dr. Joseph Llongojine, determined that he was in excellent health, and we were overjoyed that he displayed strong vitals and alertness. Even more remarkable, he wasn’t dehydrated or hungry at all – which led us to believe that his Samburu rescuers, the local warriors, may have allowed one of their cows to nurse him, or that little Siilai might have opportunistically suckled during the day!

    Siilai’s name was lovingly derived from “Lesil” – and was given to him in honour of the ranger who played such a pivotal role in his rescue. It’s also a celebration of his long-standing dedication to wildlife, as Ranger Lesil has been instrumental in coordinating multiple rescues of orphaned and injured animals, working closely with communities and conservation partners to ensure that vulnerable animals like Siilai get a second chance in life.

  • Healthy and thriving, Siilai is developing at a great pace for his age, and we’re leaving no stones unturned to give him the best possible care as he takes the next steps in his journey!

    Getting stronger each day while growing into his character and discovering his true nature, he’s already well on his way to being rehabilitated – and we truly believe in his ability to learn the ways of the wild as he keeps growing and preparing to ultimately be released back into his natural habitat.

    As he’s still so young, Siilai continues to receive specialised attention, including formula milk feedings and monitored social interactions with other calves, and his progress is truly encouraging. Developing new character traits almost daily, we love seeing how curious, playful and alert he’s become – and one of the best things about this little chap is that he’s clearly on the right continent, because when it’s really sunny, he’s super relaxed!

    Arriving at the same time as another orphan, Kimani, Siilai almost immediately struck up the most endearing friendship with this little elephant bull. The two calves have not only formed an incredibly strong bond – but pretty much spend most of their time together – feeding, playing and resting!

    Adapting quickly to life at the sanctuary, Siilai also developed close bonds with Saitabau (a keeper who was involved in his rescue) and Ltaiwan – one of Reteti’s long-serving caregivers. He is very sociable and affectionate with his trusted caregivers, but just like any typical buffalo, he’s a tad defensive around unfamiliar people!

    Siilai’s rescue is a strong example of effective community–conservation collaboration. The rapid response from local Samburu warriors, the dedication of Ranger Lesil, and the efforts of Reteti’s team and KWS have together given this calf a second chance at life.

    Through his name and his journey, “The Lucky Buffalo Calf”, as Siilai is also known, stands as a symbol of hope, resilience and the vital role of local conservation champions in safeguarding Kenya’s wildlife.

Kimani’s playfulness nudges Siilai out of his shell – while Siilai’s quiet and steady presence has become a dependable source of comfort and companionship to Kimani!

Almost immediately after they arrived at Reteti, it was clear that Siilai imprinted on Kimani.

In their first days at the sanctuary, the two were placed in the same sleeping quarters, spent their days playing together, and quickly found solace in each other' company. The presence of another orphan can significantly ease feelings of isolation and inner trauma.

Apart from providing Siilai with a much-needed sense of security after his ordeal of becoming abandoned, Kimani – being a larger and more confident animal – also offers him the safety net of leadership and reassurance. In that way, Kimani has become a safe haven for Siilai, as the friendship between these two started to grow organically. 

But this is hardly a one-sided relationship, and Kimani is on the receiving end of a great deal of mutual comfort, care and closeness.

Favourite Moments with Kimani & Siilai

  • They’re both playful, but occasionally a bit jealous too! This can be hilarious to watch, as they compete for keepers’ attention – which often results in hilarious tug-of-trunk or nudge battles. Their instincts complement each other beautifully too, and when it really matters, they always have each other’s backs.

  • Elephants are naturally affectionate and protective, and Kimani often offers calming physical contact – like trunk hugs or leaning in for reassurance.

  • Siilai has a heightened sense of awareness, which is typical of buffalo calves, and he's quick to alert Kimani of sudden sounds or movements that he may find scary. They’ve become each other’s emotional anchors, blending curiosity with caution!

  • Both animals have plenty of confidence and emotional resilience. Siilai has become more open and playful, drawing courage from Kimani’s boldness. Meanwhile, Kimani has learned empathy and a sense of responsibility, often watching over Siilai in ways we often see between young elephants.

LOOKING AHEAD

Here at Reteti, we rescue to release.

The bond between Kimanii and Siilai will be tested as time goes by, and their eventual separation will no doubt be stressful for the two. However, rewilding is a very gradual process.

While the two friends now step onto a path of healing, growing and developing into mature animals, they’ll learn to engage and interact with wild elephants and buffaloes respectively during wilderness walks – and learn to become more independent too.

Kimani will slowly be integrated into a group of young elephants to learn essential survival skills. The aim is for both of these calves to gain confidence within their own species, develop socially appropriate behaviours, and avoid long-term stress.

As they take the steps to be rewilded while continuing to forge their special and vital friendship here at Reteti, you can become a foster parent to this pair of friends and support their unique journey!

Adopting Kimani & Siilai will contribute to…

  • Feeding Reteti’s orphaned wildlife
    with nourishing milk from the Milk to Market Program

  • The Keepers
    and their 24/7 expert care and endless love for the orphans

  • Veterinary care
    ensuring the orphans are healthy and strong from rescue to release

  • Kimani & Siilai’s release
    and their journey back to the wild in Northern Kenya

What is included in your adoption?

  • A digital, sharable Adoption Certificate - making your foster parent-hood official! (Emailed to you or your gift recipient after the purchase!)

  • Regularly updated, exclusive online album with photos, behind the scenes stories, and videos of Kimani & Siilai

  • Regular email and video updates about your elephant and buffalo (SMS updates too for those of you in the USA!) 

  • Automatic membership to "The Herd" - our monthly donor club that gets you invites to our livestreams, updates from the Reteti team, and more!


PLEASE NOTE
We are a US-based 5013C and therefore your monthly donation is 100% tax deductible for customers in the USA. Additionally, multiple adoptions of individual orphans enable us to cover the costs of caring for all the orphans at Reteti. Your contribution will help us cover the cost of milk, the keepers, veterinary cost and other essentials your your orphan needs.

Your monthly donation will support the rehabilitation and care of Kimani and Siilai on their journey back to the wild.