Poaching has decimated the number of African elephants, as it has many other wild animals, in recent years. Every year, a large number of these massive beasts are hunted for their tusks, leaving behind a large number of poor orphaned young. Some of these orphan elephants are saved, which is a good thing. The Nairobi Elephant Orphanage is one of the few sites in Kenya where orphaned newborn elephants may find safety and love.

The beautiful newborn elephants are cared after by a devoted team of conservationists. Even if life isn’t easy for a calf that lost its parents due to excessive poaching, the orphanage’s volunteers’ warmth and commitment help them get through. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a sweetheart, is one of them. She is, in fact, the lady who made this possible by dedicating her life to animal rescue.

Hundreds of animals have had a second chance at living because to one woman for over four decades. Dame Daphne has successfully hand-reared young elephants for all of those years. Hundreds of them were able to return to the wild as a result of her and her team’s efforts.

Dame Daphne Sheldrick has discovered a perfect milk formula that replicates the milk of a mother elephant, thanks to her hard work and passion. The woman claims that the orphaned elephants have not only inspired her groundbreaking conservation work with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, but they have also taught her a great deal about life.

“Elephants have taught me how to put the unpleasant things behind me, flip the page, and move forward,” she explained. “Knowing what elephants go through and how they cope has made me a stronger person.” And the elephants she saved repay her in the kindest way imaginable for her kindness. Take a look at the images below!