Ambo
Ambo was rescued by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in 2016, after he was discovered by a community member stuck in a water hole in Amboseli. His strong will to survive in the face of such challenges will stand him in good stead in the future, when he will one day roam wild and free.
Ambo has come a long way since 2016 when he arrived in the care of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in a bundle of blankets, fighting fatigue. Having been discovered alone stuck in a muddy water hole by a community member, Ambo went on to bravely pull himself out of it. When rangers arrived to rescue him, they found him endlessly roaming in a effort to find his herd. But with no elephant families in the area and night drawing in fast, they decided to rescue him before he became a meal forpredators. Read more.
If you feel inspired by Ambo’s story, and want to support his care, you can adopt through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Adoption Program. Our ability to raise orphaned elephants so that they will grow up as healthy, loved and supported animals is completely reliant on donations and the generosity of others.
Creating Ambo’s sculpture
Inspired by Ambo’s strength and determination to free himself from the waterhole, artists Gillie and Marc have expertly sculpted his likeness in bronze, with his feet firmly planted on the ground.
Raising awareness for elephants
Elephants once roamed the plains of Africa in their millions but now, the species are officially endangered. Poachers and habitat loss, amongst other threats, has brought African savanna elephants like Ambo to the brink of extinction, while their forest elephant cousins are listed as critically endangered. There is a very real possibility we might be the last generation to see elephants in the wild.
By sharing Ambo’s story, we hope to raise awareness and engage people in the plight of elephants, and how our own actions could help save a species.