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Daphne was the first to develop formula milk for orphaned baby elephants by combining milk powder developed for premature human babies with coconut, vegetable oil and ground cereals. The formula has been significant in the survival of many of Kenya’s vulnerable milk dependent calves, as a calf under two years old will die within a day of becoming orphaned if it no longer has access to milk.
If you and you family visit the orphanage you can enjoy watching the feeding and bath time of the orphans which children delight in. Although this might paint a rosy picture it certainly isn’t easy to hand-rear an elephant; they are sensitive feeders and the right balance can be upset if the environment isn’t nurturing and supportive as it would be with its own mother. Elephants need to be taught how to feed successfully, and it takes endless patience from the orphanage’s trained keepers to teach a baby to suckle. They also need to be shown how to use their trunks and ears effectively, roll in the dust, and bathe. The keepers at the orphanage become the elephants' surrogate mothers with bottle-feeding on demand. Sometimes the duties of a mother cannot be mimicked so to make up for the loss of a belly under which to shade the keepers will slather sunscreen on the backs of the little ones.
All of this work pays off as it is a heart warming sight to see the baby elephants trotting along with trunks and ears lolling. The happiness and healthiness of the young elephant calf is fantastic to see and as they play together in the sun it's like watching a playground full of children at break time. Once the calves no longer need the milk and nurturing they are released into Tsavo National Park.