In the quiet stillness of the Samburu night, the stars hung low over the Ewaso Nyiro River, their faint reflections shimmering on the surface of the dark, restless water. It was around 2 a.m. when the silence was broken by a sound that pierced through the African wilderness—a desperate, trembling cry. Somewhere in the shadows, a baby elephant was fighting for its life.
The cries grew louder, echoing through the night air, until they reached the ears of security personnel stationed at the Elephant Bedroom Camp, a luxury safari lodge nestled within the heart of the Samburu National Reserve. The men on duty—brave, alert, and instinctively attuned to the rhythms of the wild—immediately sensed something was terribly wrong. They grabbed their flashlights and ran toward the source of the cries. What they found would test every ounce of their courage and humanity.
There, amid the swirling currents of the Ewaso Nyiro River, a tiny elephant calf—no more than six to eight weeks old—was trapped and terrified. The river was swollen and fast-moving from recent rains, its muddy waters hiding dangers beneath the surface. The calf was struggling against the pull of the current, its trunk flailing, its small body trembling with exhaustion.
Without hesitation, the three men—whose names have not been publicly released but whose actions speak volumes—plunged into the river. The icy water pulled at their legs, the current fighting to sweep them away, but their focus remained unwavering. They waded, swam, and pushed forward, guided by the faint light of their torches and the sound of the frightened baby’s cries. For long minutes, it was a battle between man, nature, and time itself.
Finally, they reached the calf. With great care, they steadied its slippery, mud-caked body, soothing it with calm voices as they worked to bring it back to shore. It took all their combined strength to haul the calf to safety, its small form collapsing from exhaustion once it was out of the water. The men gathered around it, their clothes soaked and their hearts pounding, relief washing over them as they realized they had just pulled a life from the jaws of death.
As dawn began to break over the savannah, the men contacted the nearest wildlife response teams. Save the Elephants and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) were immediately informed, and within hours, a rescue operation was underway.
Teams from both organizations quickly arrived on the scene. Their first task was to ensure the calf’s physical safety and emotional stability. It was clear from the beginning that the baby, now affectionately named
Lomunyak—meaning “lucky one” in the Samburu language—had endured immense trauma. His body bore signs of bruising and exhaustion, suggesting that he may have been swept away by the river after being separated from his mother.
Despite exhaustive efforts to locate her, Lomunyak’s mother was nowhere to be found. Rangers combed the surrounding area, tracking elephant footprints, calling out in hopes of a response. But there was only silence. The heartbreaking reality set in—Lomunyak was alone.
Dr. Matthew Muitinda, a seasoned wildlife veterinarian from KWS, took immediate charge of Lomunyak’s care. With years of experience in treating injured wildlife, Dr. Muitinda and his team knew that the first few hours after a rescue were critical. The calf’s body temperature had dropped significantly, and dehydration was setting in. Under the soft morning light, they administered fluids, applied topical treatments to small wounds, and monitored his breathing closely.
The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary—an organization known for its groundbreaking community-led conservation work—was quickly contacted. Located in northern Kenya, Reteti has become a beacon of hope for orphaned and injured elephants, many of whom have lost their families to poaching, human-wildlife conflict, or natural disasters. Their mission is not just to rehabilitate elephants, but to return them to the wild when they are ready.
When the Reteti rescue truck arrived later that morning, Lomunyak was gently lifted onto a stretcher and secured for the journey. The team surrounded him, offering soft reassurances as they began the long drive to the sanctuary. Along the way, Dr. Muitinda kept a close watch, ensuring the calf’s condition remained stable. For hours, the dusty road wound through the arid terrain, the sounds of the wild echoing beyond the truck’s steady rumble.
By the time Lomunyak reached Reteti, the staff were ready. The sanctuary’s team, trained in neonatal elephant care, immediately took over, continuing the medical treatment and beginning the delicate process of emotional stabilization. For young elephants, emotional trauma can be as devastating as physical injury. Losing a mother so early can leave deep scars, as baby elephants are highly social animals who depend entirely on their mothers for nourishment, guidance, and protection.
But Lomunyak’s spirit, it seemed, was unbroken. Though weak, he responded to the gentle touch of his caregivers, reaching out with his tiny trunk as if recognizing the compassion in their gestures. He was placed in a warm, comfortable enclosure and fed specialized milk formula designed to replicate the nutrients found in elephant mother’s milk.
Days passed, and Lomunyak began to regain strength. Caretakers reported that he was standing more firmly, exploring his surroundings, and even showing playful behavior—a hopeful sign that his emotional recovery was underway. The sanctuary staff spoke of him with affection and admiration, noting his resilience and gentle temperament.
In the weeks that followed, Lomunyak’s story spread across Kenya and beyond, capturing the hearts of conservationists, animal lovers, and communities who followed Reteti’s updates online. His journey became a symbol of what can be achieved when courage, compassion, and collaboration come together in the service of life.
Dr. Muitinda later reflected on the rescue, saying, “Every life we save reminds us of why we do this work. Lomunyak’s survival is a miracle of teamwork—from the brave men who entered the river, to the rangers, veterinarians, and sanctuary staff who refused to give up. It’s a story of hope.”
Indeed, that hope has become the driving force behind Reteti’s mission. Founded in 2016, Reteti is the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa, empowering local Samburu communities to protect and care for wildlife within their ancestral lands. The organization not only rescues and rehabilitates elephants but also provides local employment opportunities, fostering coexistence between people and wildlife.
Lomunyak’s arrival at Reteti serves as a powerful reminder of the deep interconnection between humans and the natural world. Every decision, every act of bravery, and every compassionate gesture ripples outward—creating impact far beyond the immediate rescue. The men who dove into that river may have saved one elephant’s life, but they also reignited faith in humanity’s ability to protect and preserve the fragile beauty of the wild.
Today, Lomunyak continues to thrive under the loving care of his new elephant family and the devoted keepers at Reteti. He is growing stronger with each passing day, his wounds healing, his spirit soaring. In time, he will learn to forage, play, and connect with other calves—many of whom share stories of survival similar to his own. And perhaps, one day, when he is old and wise enough, Lomunyak will return to the wild plains of Samburu, walking proudly under the same stars that witnessed his rescue.
For now, his story continues to inspire. It is a story of bravery, compassion, and resilience—a reminder that even in the darkest hours of the night, there are still those willing to dive into the unknown to save a life.
