The Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery was established as a specialized care center for orphaned, milk-dependent elephant calves.

These young orphans require individual and bespoke care as they are particularly vulnerable in their early years. Because of the intensive nature of this work, the babies require around-the-clock attention to ensure their best chance of survival. Equipped with all the necessary infrastructure, the ZEN nursery is the only facility of its’ kind in Zimbabwe.

The welfare of each individual elephant that comes into our care is our primary concern. We take great measures to ensure that these vulnerable babies are given the necessary attention, care, and love that is needed to ensure every possible chance of survival.

Rehabilitating milk-dependent elephants is a difficult process and requires a diverse team of experts to ensure success.

Every calf is different and we need to be flexible in adjusting treatment and we adopted a holistic approach to the way in which we undertake the rehabilitation of each baby in our care. All calves are treated as individuals and, with a dedicated team of veterinarians, nurses, and carers, we are constantly learning new and innovative ways to support and look after these vulnerable and precious animals.

We believe that research is a critical part of the work that we do. We are consistently collecting and analysing data from each individual elephant to ensure that they have the best possible chance of a full reintegration back to the wild.