Raindrop

Meet Raindrop, our sweet and gentle 18-month-old female elephant orphan.

This adorable girl was only about 16 months old when her life was tragically impacted by human-wildlife conflict. She lost her mother, leaving little Raindrop orphaned and vulnerable in Mokgacha Village, several hours drive north to the Okavango Panhandle.

Thankfully, our team was quickly alerted to her situation by the Seronga Wildlife Department, and we rushed to the scene to rescue her. Without much water in the area, this poor girl was extremely weak and dehydrated, and we needed to get fluids into her quickly.

Because she was so dehydrated, a visitor at the time of her rescue suggested a name to turn that suffering into something positive—“Raindrop”. It was the name of her daughter’s childhood best friend, a stuffed toy elephant that she carried everywhere for years.

Just like her new brothers and sisters in the herd, Raindrop takes her milk bottle every three hours around the clock. She is always excited for that bottle, as all of the orphans are. But for the newest rescues who arrive hungry and missing their mothers, each milk bottle is a source of comfort that means the world to them.

Because she still looks a bit dehydrated, we also give her a warm water bottle in between each of her milk bottles. She absolutely loves it and lights up when we deliver her extra treat. There she is, reaching her little trunk out for that special bottle. We’re delighted to see her little personality begin to shine through, and we’re looking forward to watching her grow and flourish.

Raindrop has been settling in well at the orphanage and receiving the specialized care she requires. We’re working closely with her to ensure she receives the nutrition and nurturing she needs to grow and develop. She is absolutely in love with her new human mothers, just as we are in love with her.