About us
Who we are
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a global leader in elephant conservation and one of Africa’s most respected wildlife charities. Founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, it was created to build upon the conservation vision of her late husband, David Sheldrick, the founding warden of Tsavo East National Park, Kenya’s oldest and largest national park. The Tsavo ecosystem remains the base for much of SWT’s operations.
SWT is best known for its pioneering Orphans’ Project, a first-of-itskind program to rescue, raise, and rewild orphaned elephants and rhinos. Underpinning this mission are SWT’s field projects, which protect wildlife and preserve critical habitats across the country. Backed by decades of field experience, SWT is a multi-dimensional conservation organisation dedicated to tackling the greatest threats facing Kenya’s natural world, while engaging local communities and mobilising a global supporter base in the process.
In 2004, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK was established as a registered charity in England and Wales.



