How Baby Elephant is Adjusting to New Elephant Family at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Northern Kenya, AFRICA:  

Long’uro may have only one-third of his trunk left (after the horrific hyena attack while he was trapped in the well) (1) but that has not stopped him from learning how to use it, especially when eating acacia (9) seed pods that have fallen to the ground (watch video ‘Long’uro Update’ (8)) or enjoying a splash of water atop his head. (1)

 

 

 

 

Baby Elephant’s Personality Traits: This little bull elephant ‘has grown into a smart, kind, caring big brother.’ (13)

Long’uro really is ‘the most caring, gentle soul’ while at the same time he quite ‘independent’. (1) He exhibits his independence by deciding (a lot of the times) that he would rather have his meals by himself or that he would rather not ‘interact with the other elephants’ on any particular day. (1) Maybe this (his independence) stems from his having to overcome the ‘physical wounds’ he suffered, as a calf, to his trunk. 

And “despite Long’uro being deeply traumatised – he remarkably never fell into depression – like many other baby elephants who suffered trauma often do. He had a willingness within.” (7) This with the help of carer Mary Lengees. (see next)

 

Baby Elephant’s Favorite Things: Actually his favorite thing is his favorite human, elephant keeper/elephant carer Mary Lengees. (watch video ‘Longuro and Mary’ (6) For it was Mary who ‘took on the task of being his mother, and stayed by his side, day in and day out, nursing his emotional and physical wounds.’  

Mary still holds a special place in Long’uro’s heart. So much so that he has been known to feel neglected by her giving bottles to other orphaned elephants in the Reteti herd. (1)  

 

 

 

 

Baby Elephant’s New Friends: RETETI orphan Lomunyak is his bestie. They share a special bond as they became orphaned about the same time and are ‘almost the same age’. (1)  Lomunyak will often share his browse with Long’uro and they enjoy playing together. (1)

 

Look at Him Now!: 

Elephants love to browse on the leaves and branches of trees  (14)  and Long’uro has adapted brilliantly, despite his ‘short trunk,’ (1) to master this skill!  

– Longuro will ‘feed himself and browse on the leaves’ (11)

– ‘Long’uro spends his time practicing bending branches and grabbing leaves.’ (12)

– Long’uro enjoys a lullaby with carer Dorothy  “Age-old Samburu stories speak of a time when elephants and the Samburu were part of the same family. The way Dorothy tenderly speaks with and sings to Long’uro reminds us that here at Reteti, the keepers are more than caretakers, they and the elephants are family.” (10) 

   

 

Source 17

 

 

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary elephant adoptions include:

• “A digital, sharable Adoption Certificate making your foster parent-hood official!” 
• “A Social Media Starter Pack, with videos and photos which you can use to share the news about becoming a #RetetiFosterParent”
• “Quarterly email updates about your foster elephant”
• “Updated social media share pack with new photos and videos of your foster elephant on a quarterly basis”

“Please note: Multiple adoptions of individual elephants enable us to cover the costs of caring for all 46 elephants at Reteti; your contribution will help us cover the cost of milk, the keepers, veterinary cost and other essentials your elephant needs.”

 

 

See also: Video Moment: Meet Long’uro and His Family & Find Out How to ‘Spoil the Reteti Elephants’ By Gifting Them A Bottle of Milk  

 

 

Images: Part 1 & Part 2, from cc video search (2) full copyright belongs to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (4) Featured image Long’uro in well (2) by, and FULL RIGHTS BELONG TO RETETI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY, Long’uro’s Rescue from Loisaba Conservancy on 18 April 2020 (2) & Cc flickr by and full rights belong to twacar; Mary Lengees, with Suyian, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary’s first rescued orphaned elephant (15) ; Long’uro from cc video by Pluto Living Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (16) Long’uro learns to splash with his little trunk! (17) 

 

Sources: Part 1 & Part 2

(1) https://www.reteti.org/adoptions/p/longuro

(2) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Long%E2%80%99uro+RETETI+elephant+creative+commons

(3) https://loisaba.com/elephant-rescue/

(4)  https://www.reteti.org/

(5) KWS https://www.kws.go.ke/

(6) video ‘Long’uro and Mary’ https://www.facebook.com/RetetiElephantSanctuary/videos/longuro-and-mary/806521267661813/

(7) Reteti FB post (3/6) April 18 2022 https://www.facebook.com/RetetiElephantSanctuary/posts/36-in-less-than-24-hours-mary-lengees-had-established-a-deep-bond-with-longuro-s/941943626425255/ 

(8) video ‘Long’uro Update’ https://www.facebook.com/RetetiElephantSanctuary/videos/longuro-update/205106018231614/ 

(9) https://elephantspokenhere.com/2024/09/06/elephants-and-trees-part-5-trees-provide-more-than-a-canopy-for-elephants-ana-trees/ 

(10) video ‘The lullaby Dorothy sings to Long’uro…’ 112323 https://www.facebook.com/RetetiElephantSanctuary/videos/the-lullaby-dorothy-sings-to-longuro-at-the-end-of-the-video-is-a-heartwarming-g/1718759505265693/ 

(11) video ‘Long’uro’ (browses trees) 091720 https://www.facebook.com/RetetiElephantSanctuary/videos/longuro/3562804443763620/

(12) video ‘Long’uro’ (bending branches and grabbing leaves) 110320 https://www.facebook.com/RetetiElephantSanctuary/videos/longuro/3394137897301774/

(13) video ‘Long’uro update’ 090721 (browsing trees) https://www.facebook.com/RetetiElephantSanctuary/videos/longuro-update-/1488297374863027/

(14) https://elephantspokenhere.com/?s=elephants+and+trees++&submit= Search

(15) https://www.flickr.com/photos/32760542@N07/44373121491/sizes/l/ 

(16) Long’uro from cc video by Pluto Living Reteti Elephant Sanctuary https://www.youtube.com/results search_query=Long%E2%80%99uro+RETETI+elephant+creative+commons 

(17) Long’uro learns to splash with his little trunk!  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Long%E2%80%99uro+RETETI+elephant+creative+commons

 

 

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