Barsilinga

Barsilinga is one of the seven orphan baby elephants rescued by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), whose names adorn our Elephant Strength Gin miniature bottles. We chose to foster these seven beautiful elephants as they’ve shown an incredible strength and persistence, overcoming terrible heartaches, unbelievable traumas, injuries and losses of their family.

Gunshots were heard during the evening of 13th April 2012 by the community of the Lpus-La-Mpasion area near Wamba in the Samburu tribal area of Northern Kenya. The next morning a severely wounded female elephant, with a calf at foot, was spotted in the area. Bullet wounds in the chest area and front legs rendered her barely able to even move, yet another victim of the ivory trade and a grizzly reminder of the suffering attached to each piece of ivory that is bought or sold. The mother’s end was a painful one, full of suffering, and her calf would have been a victim too, had he not been one of the lucky few rescued. 

The matter was reported to a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) patrol within the area. They summoned the KWS Vet, Dr. Mutinda, who travelled to the scene to assess the injured mother. It turned out that the female elephant’s wounds were too severe for any hope of recovery. Having reported the matter to the Nairobi KWS Headquarters, it was decided that the mother be euthanised and her calf saved and sent to the DSWT near Nairobi.

The baby was in good condition, approximately two weeks old, a tiny bull still pink behind the ears. He was given the name “Barsilinga” after the area close to where his mother met her grizzly end just weeks after giving life to this precious baby. He is adapting well to the Nursery life.

Watch a rescue video here.

Photo copyright and text: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust