Elephant Orphanage Project
GRI’s Elephant Orphanage Project was established in 2008 with critical funding from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), with a clear mission: to rescue, rehabilitate, and ultimately release orphaned elephants back into the wild.
Zambia’s elephants remain under threat from illegal ivory poaching and escalating human-elephant conflict, as both wildlife and communities compete for limited resources. The youngest victims of these pressures are the orphaned calves—left without their mothers’ protection, nourishment, and guidance, they would not survive alone.
Our goal for every rescued elephant is to return them to the wild where they truly belong. This is a long and careful journey, guided by science and compassion. From the moment of rescue through to release, we take a research-led approach, monitoring each orphan’s health, behaviour, and progress to ensure their welfare and to inform best practices in elephant management.
The rehabilitation process typically takes more than a decade. Only after years of dedicated care, recovery, and growth do the calves mature into strong, confident young adults, ready—both physically and emotionally—to reintegrate into a wild herd and live freely in their natural habitat once again.
RESCUE
When a young elephant is left alone - whether through poaching, conflict, or separation from its herd - its chances of survival are heartbreakingly slim. GRI is on call to respond, providing urgent care and safe transport to bring these vulnerable calves into the protection of our Elephant Orphanage Project
REHABILITATE
At the Lusaka Elephant Nursery, rescued calves begin their journey of healing. Here they receive 24-hour care, specialised nutrition, and the comfort of a new herd, helping them recover both physically and emotionally from the trauma of losing their families.
RELEASE
When the young elephants are ready, they move to our Kafue Release Facility, where they gain strength, confidence, and the skills needed to live independently. Here, they gradually integrate into wild herds, taking the final steps toward a life of freedom in the wild where they truly belong.
Give an Orphaned Elephant a Second Chance
By adopting an elephant, you become a vital part of their journey back to the wild. Your support provides food, medical care, and the round-the-clock protection that orphaned calves need to survive and thrive. Every adoption helps us heal broken hearts and give these elephants a second chance at life in the wild where they belong.
Meet the Orphan Herd
Meet the orphans who are currently under the care of Game Rangers International at Lusaka Elephant Nursery and Kafue Release Facility. Each of the orphans has their own tragic story, but each now has a new chance at a life back in the wild, where they belong.
Find out more about the elephants by visiting our Meet the Herd page.
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Game Rangers International's Elephant Orphanage Project is supported by our partners in conservation.
