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🐘 Background on Reteti & Its Mission
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, located in northern Kenya’s Namunyak Community Conservancy, is the world's first Indigenous community-owned African elephant sanctuary — and the first to employ female keepers. Founded in 2016 by the Samburu community, Reteti rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephant calves, with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild. Reteti represents a new model of conservation — one led by local people who live alongside wildlife. Each rescue, each bottle of milk, and every release is powered by Samburu hands and hearts. The sanctuary is funded and operated by The Sarara Foundation, and works in close partnership with Save the Elephants, Namunyak Conservancy, and Kenya Wildlife Service.
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🌿 What Donations Support
Round-the-clock care for orphaned elephants — including milk, veterinary care, and keeper training.
Community programs such as the Milk to Market initiative, which uplifts Samburu women (“Milk Mamas”).
Wildlife rescue operations and mobile veterinary response across northern Kenya.
Education and conservation awareness at the new Reteti Visitor Centre, opened in 2024 by Kenya’s President.
Habitat restoration and coexistence efforts within the 850,000-acre Namunyak Conservancy.
🌍 Recent Success Stories
179 elephants have been rescued
40+ are currently in care
13 were rewilded in 2024 alone, marking the largest community-led elephant release in Kenya’s history.
• Reteti also supports women’s empowerment, rangeland restoration, and climate resilience through its Milk to Market Program, which sources 680 litres of goat milk per day from 1,280 Samburu women to feed orphaned elephants — while providing sustainable income for their families.
Since opening
The 2024 Release Herd
In June 2024, thirteen elephants were released back into Namunyak Conservancy after years of care. Their rewilding, covered by The Washington Post, symbolised hope, healing, and a new chapter for community-led conservation.
Milk to Market Milestone
In 2024 alone, Samburu women earned KSh 51.3 million (US$ 398,000) from selling milk to Reteti. The program has now expanded into goat milk soap and lotion production, further diversifying local income streams.
Visitor Centre Opening
Reteti’s new interactive visitor centre, officially opened in November 2024, offers visitors a behind-the-scenes look at elephant rescue and care, and celebrates Samburu traditions of coexistence.
🐘 Adopt a baby elephant
By adopting a Reteti orphan from $5 or more per month, you'll support us in the rehabilitation and release of these wonderful wild animals. Adopting a Reteti orphan will contribute to…
Feeding Reteti’s orphaned wildlife with nourishing milk from the Milk to Market Program
The Keepers and their 24/7 expert care and endless love for the orphans
Veterinary care ensuring the orphans are healthy and strong from rescue to release
Their release and their journey back to the wild in Northern Kenya
You can even take a quiz to learn which Reteti elephant is your soul twin!