Upon our initial encounter with Doldol, we were immediately struck by her small stature. She was the smallest orphan we had ever encountered, and it appeared as though she had been born prematurely. It became evident that her mother had abandoned her during childbirth due to some unforeseen circumstance or interruption.
On the 23rd of November 2021, a little calf named Doldol was left without a mother in the town of Dol Dol, situated on the border of Laikipia Plateau in Kenya. Being a newborn, it was a rough start for her, especially with the cold night conditions caused by the alpine air from Mount Kenya. Luckily, a compassionate member of the community took her in for the night and provided her with warmth and security in his boma. The next day, Doldol was transferred to our specialized facility, Kaluku Neonate Nursery, dedicated to rescuing and caring for vulnerable animals.
Taking care of a baby elephant that has lost its mother can be quite a challenge, especially when the little one is born prematurely. Our solution was to entrust the care of Doldol to Mishak, one of our experienced Keepers who has been raising elephants for over thirty years and has successfully cared for many challenging orphaned cases. Mishak has a special way with elephants and quickly formed a strong bond with Doldol. The newborn pachyderm would even insist on having Mishak sleep next to her at night, which meant he had to sleep on the ground. But after a few months, Doldol grew out of this habit and continued to thrive under Mishak’s care.
Mishak, Doldol’s adoptive parent, has expanded their Keeper family by introducing two new members named Peter and Jonas. Additionally, Doldol has welcomed two new neonate rescues to her orphan herd. Despite being the only child for a long time, Doldol has embraced the newcomers with open arms and enjoys being the leader of her mini herd. She proudly leads her herd with her tiny trunk up and heart-shaped ears wide open. Even though she is still a miniature elephant, she is slowly growing bigger. While she may always be small in stature, it is comforting to know that she won’t always be petite. Doldol has earned the name “little beetle” since her arrival, and it suits her well. She buzzes around with great purpose, investigating like an insect, with her small, round body, protruding eyes, and heart-shaped ears that flap like wings.
Let’s delve into the world of Doldol, the beloved queen beetle that has won our hearts! There’s something unique about observing an elephant’s journey from the very start, and Doldol’s story is no exception. Despite being left on her own as a helpless infant, she managed to triumph over her difficulties and live on. As she embarks on the rest of her life, we can’t wait to see what incredible feats this enchanting creature will accomplish.
