Beginning of the project: 2022
Donation sum collected in 2023: 352 000 CZK
Method of financing: the 4NATURE fundraiser
Breeding about 220 species, Zlín Zoo is aiming to intertwine the breeding of species kept to its protection in the wild. In 2022, upon finishing the construction work on one of the thrird largest elephant breeding facilities in the world, we have collaborated with the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in the northern Kenya. Having an elephant calf born in 2020, the very first in the country, our hearts have been stolen by Reteti’s mission.
Reteti is a Samburu community owned elephant sanctuary, one of a kind. Its unique mission is nursing the baby elephants, either lost from their herd or orphaned due to poaching.
Kelele. Metumi. Sesia. Lemorijo. These are some of the names of the elephant calves condemned to death, having their mothers killed brutally for ivory. If it wasn’t for the dedicated care of the Samburu people, they wouldn’t survive; if an orphaned calf hasn't reached two years of age, despite all the care provided by herd, it dies. Another big threat are wells - the thirsty calves often fall inside, leaving them helpless and abandoned. Many of them have to face attacks from predators, Samburu saving them heavily wounded. Currently, there are 31 calves, along with an abandoned calf of African buffalo. Our donation of 352 000 CZK, raised in our 4NATURE fundraiser, was used solely to secure milk for one single month for all of the calves in need. We are aware much more help is needed, thus we are plannning on inviting the visitors to become a part of this unique project. We are going to place a donation box near the elephant exhibit, letting every visitor to decide, whether they would like to support the calves or not, virtually buying a bottle of milk, or more.
These orphans have no family. We have to substitute it.
