0:00:04 > 0:00:06For a whole year, I've been following
0:00:06 > 0:00:09a remarkable family of baby elephants in Kenya...
0:00:11 > 0:00:15..a family of elephants raised by people.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Every one of these little elephants is an orphan,
0:00:19 > 0:00:20rescued from the wild,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22having lost their mother.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26They've all been brought to a unique nursery in Nairobi,
0:00:26 > 0:00:30where they receive the intense love and care that they desperately need.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40All of these babies have been saved from certain death in the wild
0:00:40 > 0:00:43by the vision of one woman, Daphne Sheldrick.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Together with her team of dedicated keepers,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49she's giving orphaned baby elephants
0:00:49 > 0:00:53a second chance of a normal life in the wild, where they belong.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58At around two years old, the young eles take the next step,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01when they leave the security of the nursery and are brought here.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05This is the Tsavo National Park and we're about 350km east
0:01:05 > 0:01:08of where Michaela is at the Nairobi orphanage.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10I've been following the progress of the older orphans
0:01:10 > 0:01:14as they learn what it takes to return to the wild.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38The orphan rescue team from the Nairobi nursery
0:01:38 > 0:01:41has been called to Amboseli, to save a little bull elephant
0:01:41 > 0:01:45hiding in a swamp after being speared by Masai children.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Despite his wounds,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50the little ele runs for his life when he reaches dry land.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56But luckily, the vet manages to dart him.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02The poor little bull is in a bad way.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06His wounds are already infected and he may have contracted pneumonia.
0:02:06 > 0:02:12His only chance is an emergency flight back to the Nairobi nursery.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Here at Ithumba, the new release site in northern Tsavo,
0:02:19 > 0:02:24the dry season is starting to bite. Conditions are getting pretty tough.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29Several weeks ago, a brand-new orphan herd was established here,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33when six babies from Nairobi, led by their mini-matriarch, Wendi,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37were moved here and teamed up with four older, more experienced
0:02:37 > 0:02:39females from Voi.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44I've come back today, to see if those ten chosen elephants
0:02:44 > 0:02:48have begun to bond as a herd, and if the little ones are learning
0:02:48 > 0:02:51the survival skills they need from the older ones.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55You can just feel the sun dragging the moisture out of the ground.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The water holes have dried up. Take a look at the grass.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01This is what the elephants feed on for much of the year
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and there's no nutrients left in it, at all.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06In fact, right now, at the height of the dry season,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10the keepers will have to keep a very close eye on our youngsters
0:03:10 > 0:03:13and, if they have to, they will provide them with extra food.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20This site was selected because it used to support
0:03:20 > 0:03:22thousands of wild elephants.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Most left long ago, scared off by years of poaching,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29but it's much safer now and the hope is
0:03:29 > 0:03:33that the orphans will help draw those wild herds back.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37The keepers are helping our orphans explore this wilderness,
0:03:37 > 0:03:41and it seems that, despite the harsh conditions,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43they are coping extremely well.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Hello, Wendi. Hi, there, how are you?
0:03:50 > 0:03:54We were worried that, when Wendi made her move from the orphanage,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57where she was the mini-matriarch, that she might have been
0:03:57 > 0:04:01completely thrown out of balance being mixed with older elephants.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04But in fact, it's like it's given her the opportunity
0:04:04 > 0:04:06to going back to being just a baby elephant.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10She's relaxed, she's gentle and all she wants to do
0:04:10 > 0:04:11is come up and say hello.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19That's Napasha, that little bull. He seems to be
0:04:19 > 0:04:22just a little bit, sort of, on the periphery.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33THEY CONVERSE IN KENYAN
0:04:42 > 0:04:46For a little male, it's quite normal for him to just be off to one side,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48- that's just being a male.- Yeah.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Elephant society is dominated
0:04:52 > 0:04:55by close-knit groups of females.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Bulls lead much more independent lives.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00So, as long as he's got plenty of food
0:05:00 > 0:05:02and the protection of others nearby,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Napasha can just enjoy being a little boy.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18The bigger elephants are really taking the littlies to their hearts.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21In time, one of them will become the matriarch of this new herd,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23but for now, they're all mucking in.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30See how they use their trunks to reassure the younger ones,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32in these strange new surroundings.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Our bigger elephants are very confident, the way they're
0:05:39 > 0:05:40moving into this new bush,
0:05:40 > 0:05:45and really, in a sense, creating a pathway for the little ones,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48giving them the confidence to move in there.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53But all this is just the beginning for our new herd.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57There's still so much to learn before any of them become truly independent.
0:06:01 > 0:06:07Back at the Nairobi nursery, the new arrival is in a bad way.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The infection from his wounds is poisoning his blood
0:06:10 > 0:06:12and he's fading fast.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15His wet trunk shows that pneumonia
0:06:15 > 0:06:18has also taken hold.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24The vet tries desperately to keep his heart and lungs working.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Head keeper Edwin knows that they've done all they can,
0:06:35 > 0:06:40but it's not enough and they're unable to save the little elephant.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47His death heralds the start
0:06:47 > 0:06:51of a flood of rescues for the nursery.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Every one of these fragile babies
0:06:53 > 0:06:56has lost its family and will die without help.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Daphne, Edwin and the rescue team work day and night
0:07:00 > 0:07:02to save as many as they can.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07In just three months, they managed to rescue six babies.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12They're all under two years old - their most vulnerable age.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17Sadly, only three survive to become part of the nursery's baby herd.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23But one of them, to me at least, seems particularly special.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28This adorable little elephant is the newest arrival here at the orphanage
0:07:28 > 0:07:31and the sweetest little elephant I've ever seen.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36He's called Jipe and he was rescued when he was just three weeks old.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41He was found stuck in the mud on the banks of Lake Jipe, in Tsavo West.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44There were lots of footprints around where he was stuck
0:07:44 > 0:07:45which indicated that the herd
0:07:45 > 0:07:49had tried very hard to get him out but, eventually, had to leave him.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52He was rescued and airlifted here to the orphanage,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54where he's settled in extremely well.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01The reason he's adapted so well to his new life is that he's really
0:08:01 > 0:08:04too young to remember anything else.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Jipe's one of the smallest of all the orphans here,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17but that doesn't stop him being one of the most playful.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23He's such a little character
0:08:23 > 0:08:26that he's quickly becoming a firm favourite
0:08:26 > 0:08:29with Edwin and the other keepers. And just like
0:08:29 > 0:08:32any other young baby, when Jipe's not playing,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35he's usually either trying to eat or sleep.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38He likes his sleep, doesn't he, Edwin?
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Yeah. He likes it, because he's still young.
0:08:41 > 0:08:47So...when they're out in the wild with the mother, he has to sleep
0:08:47 > 0:08:48for some time during the day.
0:08:48 > 0:08:54But we are trying to restrict him from not sleeping
0:08:54 > 0:08:59most of the time during the day, because he spends sleepless nights.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01So he has to sleep less during the day,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03then he can sleep more during the night.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- He looks so peaceful!- Yeah.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09'But he's still so vulnerable that it'll be many months
0:09:09 > 0:09:12'before he's REALLY out of danger.'
0:09:17 > 0:09:20It's getting late here at the new release site
0:09:20 > 0:09:24in northern Tsavo and the orphans are heading home after a long, hot day
0:09:24 > 0:09:26browsing in the arid bush.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35The dry season is always tough for eles.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38It's times like this that our orphans really need
0:09:38 > 0:09:40the support of their keepers to survive.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47At the moment, water's like gold dust
0:09:47 > 0:09:49but the keepers fill a water hole every day,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53guaranteeing the youngsters a good drink when they need it most.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01There's no surprise who's the first to take his fill.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04This is Napasha's party trick.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06He puts his leg over the side
0:10:06 > 0:10:08almost as if he's going to get right into the water.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12See how he just loves that rough surface
0:10:12 > 0:10:14of the concrete around the water.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Oh, my goodness!
0:10:19 > 0:10:24Well, that is a first... and it would just have to be Napasha.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34I have to say that the big girls are being very tolerant of his antics.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37But I suppose it's just a case of boys being boys.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Although the older elephants are giving the entire herd
0:10:46 > 0:10:50confidence in their new home, all the orphans are still very vulnerable,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53and never more so than at night.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09This stockade is home for these elephants now.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11They're brought here each evening
0:11:11 > 0:11:15because it's far too dangerous for them to be left out in the wild.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18There's an electric fence around it so they can't get out,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20predators can't get in,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22and of course the keepers are close by.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27They sleep right behind me here in these houses.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30And our little ones are far too inexperienced.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32In their own time, eventually,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35they will determine when they go back to the wild,
0:11:35 > 0:11:40but right now, they need to have the safety of this stockade.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50Huddled together like this,
0:11:50 > 0:11:54I'm sure they feel completely reassured knowing they have friends
0:11:54 > 0:11:58they can rely on, no matter what the future throws at them.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03For the moment at least, it's all quiet, just the sound of breathing...
0:12:06 > 0:12:09..and little elephant snores.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14THE ELEPHANTS SNORE
0:12:26 > 0:12:30Although I've been in the north with the new herd, I've kept wondering
0:12:30 > 0:12:35about Emily, the matriarch of the big group in the south of Tsavo.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40Well, her keepers tell us that something's wrong.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Remember, we think Emily has reached a crossroads in her life.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48She's facing a choice between staying as the leader of the orphan herd
0:12:48 > 0:12:52and taking her final step back into the wild.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57And it seems her dilemma is beginning to take its toll.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05When the rest of the herd head out to the park,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Emily has been refusing to join them.
0:13:11 > 0:13:17We've grown used to seeing a gentle, relaxed, responsible Emily.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20But now it's as if she's rebelling.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28She's behaving like a moody teenager and is throwing her weight around.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30It's SO unlike her.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Luckily, Emily still trusts her keepers
0:13:35 > 0:13:39and their authority helps to control her...
0:13:39 > 0:13:40at least, for now.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Perhaps she's decided she's just had enough of looking after
0:13:54 > 0:13:58the younger orphans and that she really wants a life of her own.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14The rest of the herd also appear bewildered by her behaviour.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17This is not what they're used to seeing from their matriarch.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27When she eventually joins her adopted family, her mood hasn't lightened.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36None of us know what Emily's feeling right now.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Her behaviour is so out of character,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43but she's reaching adolescence, so it could be her hormones.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48The only thing anyone is sure of is that she's unhappy.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Aitong has known Emily since they were babies.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07She's concerned about her friend and reaches out to her.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Is Emily about to resolve her dilemma and leave them for good?
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Here at the Nairobi nursery, our youngest baby, Jipe,
0:15:26 > 0:15:32is exploring everything he finds, no matter how small.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36Today's challenge is what to do with that trunk!
0:15:36 > 0:15:40It contains over 100,000 muscle units
0:15:40 > 0:15:44and using it skilfully takes years of practice.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49Like all babies, this stage of his life is vital and everything
0:15:49 > 0:15:54he learns brings him a step closer to being a normal wild elephant.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56And there's one older baby
0:15:56 > 0:15:59that's always very keen to help him with his lessons.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03This elephant, would you believe, is Naserian.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05The change is unbelievable.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08This is the elephant that only a few months ago,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11was a pushy little elephant.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16Not only has she grown an incredible amount
0:16:16 > 0:16:22but since the arrival of Jipe, she has become such a lovely, calm,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26friendly elephant and has taken on the role of being big sis
0:16:26 > 0:16:29to this little one who follows her everywhere.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31It really is quite a transformation.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Oh, thanks, I was just saying something nice about you.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Do you mind?!
0:16:36 > 0:16:39These two are so close.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44Maybe Naserian remembers how it felt when she arrived alone and scared.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49She even looks after Jipe when he gets into trouble,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51trying to help him unsnag his blanket.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Elephants are naturally sociable
0:17:02 > 0:17:05and she's really taken him under her wing.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09It looks like this could be the start of a very long friendship.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Despite everything Naserian's been through,
0:17:12 > 0:17:17she's still very loving and Jipe's adoring all the attention.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25But there's a new arrival at the nursery that's not doing so well.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Lualeni is four months old
0:17:31 > 0:17:35and has vivid memories of life with her family in the wild.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Everyone suspects she's suffered the horror of seeing her mother
0:17:38 > 0:17:41being slaughtered by poachers.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44It's an experience that she'll never forget
0:17:44 > 0:17:47and it's left her deeply traumatised.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51So while happy little Jipe and the other orphans
0:17:51 > 0:17:54enjoy playing and being part of the baby herd...
0:17:56 > 0:18:00..Lualeni stands all alone, lost in her grief.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11It really does break your heart watching Lualeni.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14You don't have to be an expert to see that that is a very sad
0:18:14 > 0:18:16and lonely little elephant.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Elephants are just like children, they all react differently.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22She might take months or even years
0:18:22 > 0:18:25to recover from the sadness and the trauma.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29But thankfully, she's in the care of the keepers.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32They're like surrogate mothers to all the babies.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36If anyone can help mend Lualeni's broken spirit, they can.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39It's at times like this that you realise how important
0:18:39 > 0:18:41the keepers are to these orphans.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Little Lualeni here hasn't bonded with any other elephant.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47In fact, she pushes the other elephants away.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50But she has bonded with Felix,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54and it'll be keepers like Felix that get Lualeni through her sadness.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02You just feel that this little elephant needs an awful lot of love,
0:19:02 > 0:19:06affection and nurturing... until she gets over her grief.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15The question is, will it be enough to help her keep her will to live?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21In Tsavo, Emily's keepers
0:19:21 > 0:19:24feel maybe the time has finally come
0:19:24 > 0:19:27for her to exercise her independence.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30She's been given the option of spending the night outside
0:19:30 > 0:19:32the safety of the stockade.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36The little ones still see Emily as a mother figure
0:19:36 > 0:19:41and are feeling anxious. Now, they turn to each other for reassurance.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46It could be that Emily's recent frustrations are simply because
0:19:46 > 0:19:51her needs have changed and that's exactly what we've been waiting for.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55The whole point of the project is to get the orphans to the stage
0:19:55 > 0:19:57where they're confident enough to leave.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00But the bottom line is, it's Emily's choice.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08But she's not alone.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Her old friend, Aitong, has been allowed to stay with her,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14so if they want a girls' night out, they can have it.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27Will Emily feel brave enough to take this life-changing step
0:20:27 > 0:20:29and follow the call of the wild?
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Back in Nairobi, the nursery babies are just beginning
0:20:38 > 0:20:40their long journey back into the wild.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43But when you're desperately missing your mother,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46every step is a very hard one.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49AN ELEPHANT WAILS
0:20:49 > 0:20:52That noise was coming from Lualeni.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Basically, she doesn't like to be pushed along
0:20:55 > 0:20:56with the other elephants.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58You can hear she's not happy about it.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02But she's actually doing a lot better today than usual.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Lualeni is still so wrapped up in her grief,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13she's not joining in with the other eles.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Everyone's doing their best to make her feel part of the gang.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31But the rest of the baby herd are always on the lookout
0:21:31 > 0:21:33for fun and games,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36especially if it's at the expense of the neighbours.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44This morning, we seem to be joined by a little group of wild warthogs.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47This could be quite comical because sometimes,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49the orphans like to have a little chase.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Definitely seeing those little warties off, ears out,
0:21:55 > 0:21:57little bit of trumpeting. "I'm boss."
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Those poor warthogs!
0:22:04 > 0:22:06That is a very funny sight!
0:22:15 > 0:22:18The eles seem to have lost the warties,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21but it was a good, fun game and like with so many children's games,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23there is a learning side to it as well.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27These orphans are learning what other wild animals are in the bush
0:22:27 > 0:22:29and that's really important.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32You probably heard, they're also learning to trumpet,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35which they seem to quite enjoy doing. Ooh!
0:22:46 > 0:22:49And the fun doesn't stop when the warthogs run off.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56Once a week, the babies get a big treat - a coconut oil rub.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01It's good for their skin and they seem to love it.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15This chaos is just too much for Lualeni at the moment,
0:23:15 > 0:23:19but happy little Jipe throws himself into the thick of it,
0:23:19 > 0:23:21with Naserian keeping a motherly eye on him
0:23:21 > 0:23:24and loving the attention of a new little friend.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30And once the babies are all oiled up, they get a dust bath.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35It's not just an excuse for more mess, it serves a useful purpose.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41In the wild, elephants use mud and dust as a sunscreen.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45So this is a perfect way to learn one of the life skills they'll need
0:23:45 > 0:23:49if they're ever going to survive back in the wild.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58I've just received some horrific news
0:23:58 > 0:24:00at the new release site in Tsavo
0:24:00 > 0:24:03that puts the whole project in peril.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06I woke up this morning feeling on top of the world, really excited
0:24:06 > 0:24:09about seeing the elephants again and the keepers,
0:24:09 > 0:24:14and one word has changed all that and that word is - rabies.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19I'm heading up to park headquarters
0:24:19 > 0:24:23to see Senior Warden Danny Woodley, who'll know what's going on.
0:24:27 > 0:24:28Here's Danny, here.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Danny, how's it going?
0:24:30 > 0:24:35I wish we were meeting under better circumstances. It sounds awful.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38It's serious, we're just trying to contain the situation.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40I mean, what actually happened?
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Basically, the dog came in around midnight,
0:24:44 > 0:24:49trotted up the road, broke through the wire in quite a manic state,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52and literally launched its attack on the herd of elephants,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55which were all bunched up into a corner.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58The keepers started throwing stones at the dog,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00who turned its attack on the keepers,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03but they were able to kill it with sticks and bars.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- How many elephants affected? - Five were bitten.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Rabies and elephants just don't seem to go together.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12- Does anybody know anything about them at all?- Not that we know of.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Daphne's speaking to people in England,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- South Africa, Australia, India... rabies experts.- OK.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21What we don't know yet is how far it's spread,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24how many have been infected and how many haven't.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28If the worst comes to the worst, we'll probably have to euthanise.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Having to put the elephants down is too awful to contemplate.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36They've come so far.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40I'm desperate to see for myself what's happening.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Here's Patrick, but no sign of the elephants.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47I don't know whether that's good or bad but right now,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49everything to me feels bad.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Hi, Patrick, how are you doing?
0:25:54 > 0:25:59THEY SPEAK IN AFRICAN DIALECT
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Two groups.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09This thing just gets worse and worse.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13What's happened is that the new herd have been split into two groups -
0:26:13 > 0:26:17those that were attacked by the rabid dog and those that weren't.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21And worryingly, little Wendi is one of those that's in danger.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27And of course it's not just the elephants that are at risk,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30some of the keepers may have been exposed to rabies too.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34This is turning into a massive operation.
0:26:34 > 0:26:40It involves the park's personnel, the keepers, the elephants...all of us.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42The problem is, we can't be absolutely certain
0:26:42 > 0:26:46who amongst the elephants or the people might have come into contact
0:26:46 > 0:26:48with the rabies virus.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53AMREF - the flying doctor - have flown up vaccine and serum
0:26:53 > 0:26:55to treat the elephants, to treat the people.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Quite frankly, it is a terrifying situation and all of us are scared.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04The serum should keep the keepers safe.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08But no-one knows how effective the vaccine will be for the elephants.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12Even if they're treated, we don't know if we'll be able to save them.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18These are the five elephants that had contact with that rabid dog,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21so they've been isolated from the others.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24And the keepers who are with them, they've been vaccinated.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26The hardest thing for me
0:27:26 > 0:27:29is that I simply cannot go any closer than this.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36We've spent months getting to know these elephants,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40being accepted by these elephants, going out with them every day.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Of course, building trust with these particular elephants has been vital -
0:27:44 > 0:27:47they were orphans, they've been traumatised.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Now suddenly, everybody's got to pull back.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54And imagine how they're feeling.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57They've only just begun to get used to being a family of ten.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01Now, when they need each other most, they've had to be separated.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08I mean, it just breaks your heart looking at little Wendi there.
0:28:08 > 0:28:09She's one of my favourites
0:28:09 > 0:28:12because she was the mini-matriarch at the orphanage in Nairobi
0:28:12 > 0:28:14before the move up here,
0:28:14 > 0:28:19and the thought that she might be infected with rabies is just...
0:28:19 > 0:28:21it's almost unbearable.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25The thought that any of them have got rabies...
0:28:25 > 0:28:28because the reality of that is if we can't treat them,
0:28:28 > 0:28:30they will have to be put down.
0:28:34 > 0:28:35Tomorrow on Elephant Diaries,
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Emily decides whether she's ready to go back to the wild.
0:28:39 > 0:28:44The nursery babies take on Edwin and the keepers in the big match.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49But will grief-stricken Lualeni be persuaded to join in?
0:28:49 > 0:28:53And Wendi and the infected herd discover their fate.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd