For a minimum donation of $5/month or $60/year, you will become a foster parent to Laankailerr – supporting the keepers in caring for him while he’s on his journey back to the wild.
Adopt Laankailerr
Adopt Laankailerr for yourself or as a gift for a loved one.
Your donation gets you exclusive access to Laankailerr’s private album and stories, frequent photo, video, text, and email updates from his keepers, and will also get you automatic membership to The Herd – our global community of monthly supporters!
Adopting Laankailerr 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 -
Laankailerr’s release
and his journey back to the wild in Northern Kenya
Meet Laankailerr
Gender: Male
Age When Rescued: 1.5 Years old
Rescue Date: 27 March 2023
Rescue Location: Laankailerr
Reason Orphaned: His mother passed away
Laankailerr’s Rescue Story
Brave little Laankailerr came to Reteti in April 2023– and despite being such an incredibly young calf, his spirit of survival immediately made him an inspiring presence among us all! After tragically losing his mother to natural causes, he was initially discovered guarding her lifeless body, but as Save The Elephants' team was about to rescue him, he unexpectedly startled and fled.
After finding him and putting plans in place to bring him to safety, things sadly took another turn for the worse when Laankailerr (who was named for the manyatta closest to where he was found) ran off and disappeared into the wild once again. He was probably desperate to reunite with his mother, but concerns were mounting – as chances for calves surviving without a herd’s protection are incredibly slim. Despite numerous searches, the orphan ended up alone in the wilderness for weeks – yet, miraculously, he managed to survive all on his own.
Almost a month later, local herders spotted an emaciated calf close to his mother’s final resting place, and at last, little Laankailerr was found. He was brought to Reteti to rest, heal and recover – and given the space and time to find his feet, and to mourn.
Laankailerr Today
Since his arrival, Laankilerr has reached many critical milestones, all in preparation for eventually being released back into the wild. We know from experience that calves face many challenges, and their ordeals and severe malnourishment require healing from both physical and emotional wounds.
Although Laankailerr’s story has been one of deep sadness – it’s also one of joy, survival and hope.
Settled into his new life at Reteti, Laankailerr is now thriving and gaining strength every day. After all he’s endured, it’s incredible to see him jostling with Nachapa – his newfound friend at the sanctuary; holding his milk bottle; and even making his own way to bed. His spirit of bravery is worth celebrating, and we learn from his strength and positive energy every day!
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 purchase)
A regularly updated, exclusive online album with photos, behind-the-scenes stories, and videos of Kimani
Regular email and video updates about Kimani (SMS updates too, for those in the US!)
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 501(c)(3) and therefore your monthly donation is 100% tax deductible for customers in the US. 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, keepers, veterinary cost, and other essentials your orphan needs.
Your donation will support the rehabilitation and care of Laankaillerr on his journey back to the wild.