Thank you! Despite a rain soaked start, Benjamin proudly took part in London's first ever Enormous Elephant Run and with your help, has raised over £2,000 to better protect Africa's elephants.

Following the Run, Benjamin wanted to say to all that have donated in support of him: "I kindly and sincerely thank you all for the generous support for the Enormous Elephant Run and the baby elephants which you have enabled to face a second chance at life".

We are delighted to announce that Benjamin Kyalo, Head Keeper of our Ithumba Reintegration Centre, will be our special guest of honour and taking on the 5K challenge for London's Enormous Elephant Run on Saturday 7th June!

You can support Benjamin by sponsoring him and helping us raise vital funds to protect the wild elephants and ex-orphans he sees every day. Donations can be made in £, $ and Euros and you can leave your message of support for him too.

Benjamin has worked at our Ithumba Reintegration Centre for the past 10 years and spends every day in the Tsavo wilderness accompanying the orphaned elephants as they meet herds and learn how to become wild elephants under his guidance. Knowing each elephant intimately, over 28 orphans he has cared for have gone wild with several, including Mulika and  Yatta, having had their own wild born calves - the ultimate sign of success!

"For 14 years, I have dedicated my life to caring for elephants. As a surrogate mother to the orphaned elephants, I show them love and care so they can heal from trauma and guide them with the help of other elephants to go back to the wild.

As someone who works on the ground, I see the pain elephant families undergo at the hands of poachers, and the young ones after losing their mothers. I am looking forward to taking part in The Enormous Elephant Run to raise funds for elephants; if nothing is done, then elephants face extinction and the future generation will see the species in pictures."

Every day, nearly 100 elephants are killed for their tusks leaving behind milk-dependent orphans that have no chance of survival alone. It is these orphans that Benjamin and our Teams hand-raise, ensuring they can have a second chance at a life in the wild.

By sponsoring Benjamin, you can ensure wild elephants, the orphans and ex-orphans can continue to be protected from poachers.  A donation of:

$25 could mean an orphaned elephant is kept warm with a lined blanket

$40 could provide a new veterinary box to store essential equipment and medicines to treat elephants

$115 could fund an Anti-Poaching Unit for one day keeping wild elephants protected

By supporting Benjamin, you’ll be helping to raise funds for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s projects to protect this iconic species - thank you.

Find out about our work: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org