Daphne Sheldrick
Encyclopedia
Dame Daphne Sheldrick, DBE
(born 4 June 1934, Kenya
) is a Kenyan author, conservationist and expert in animal husbandry
, particularly the raising and reintegrating of orphaned elephants into the wild for over 30 years.
Born as Daphne Marjorie Jenkins, she was educated at Nakuru Primary School and the Kenya High School where she matriculated in 1950 with Honours and the possibility of a bursary
to attend university; however she opted for marriage.
From 1955 until 1976 Sheldrick was a co-warden of Kenya's Tsavo National Park with her late husband, David Sheldrick
(MBE). During that time she raised and rehabilitated back into the wild community orphans of misfortune from many different wild species, including elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, zebras, elands, kudus, impalas, duikers, reedbuck, dikdiks, warthogs, civets, mongeese and birds.
She is a recognized authority on the rearing of wild creatures and is the first person to have perfected the milk formula and necessary husbandry for both infant milk-dependent elephants and rhinos.
, elevated to UNEP's Global 500 Roll of Honour
in 1992, among the first 500 people worldwide to have been accorded this particular honour, and awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine
and Surgery by Glasgow University in June 2000.
In December 2001 her work was honoured by the Kenya Government through a prestigious decoration - a Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS), and in 2002 by the BBC
when she received their Lifetime Achievement Award. In the November 2005 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine Daphne Sheldrick was named as one of 35 people worldwide who have made a difference in terms of animal husbandry and wildlife conservation.
In the 2006 New Year’s Honours List, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Dr. Sheldrick a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the first knighthood to be awarded in Kenya since the country received Independence in 1963.
's The Elephant Diaries series.
, released in April 2011.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 4 June 1934, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
) is a Kenyan author, conservationist and expert in animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
, particularly the raising and reintegrating of orphaned elephants into the wild for over 30 years.
Born as Daphne Marjorie Jenkins, she was educated at Nakuru Primary School and the Kenya High School where she matriculated in 1950 with Honours and the possibility of a bursary
Bursary
A bursary is strictly an office for a bursar and his or her staff in a school or college.In modern English usage, the term has become synonymous with "bursary award", a monetary award made by an institution to an individual or a group to assist the development of their education.According to The...
to attend university; however she opted for marriage.
From 1955 until 1976 Sheldrick was a co-warden of Kenya's Tsavo National Park with her late husband, David Sheldrick
David Sheldrick
Major David Leslie William Sheldrick, MBE was a Kenyan farmer and park warden, in memorium to whom the eponymous was created.-Early years:...
(MBE). During that time she raised and rehabilitated back into the wild community orphans of misfortune from many different wild species, including elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, zebras, elands, kudus, impalas, duikers, reedbuck, dikdiks, warthogs, civets, mongeese and birds.
She is a recognized authority on the rearing of wild creatures and is the first person to have perfected the milk formula and necessary husbandry for both infant milk-dependent elephants and rhinos.
Honours
For her work in this field Daphne Sheldrick was decorated by the Queen in 1989 with an MBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, elevated to UNEP's Global 500 Roll of Honour
Global 500 Roll of Honour
The United Nations Environment Programme established the Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1987 to recognize the environmental achievements of individuals and organizations around the world.The last Global 500 Roll of Honour awards were made in 2003...
in 1992, among the first 500 people worldwide to have been accorded this particular honour, and awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
and Surgery by Glasgow University in June 2000.
In December 2001 her work was honoured by the Kenya Government through a prestigious decoration - a Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS), and in 2002 by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
when she received their Lifetime Achievement Award. In the November 2005 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine Daphne Sheldrick was named as one of 35 people worldwide who have made a difference in terms of animal husbandry and wildlife conservation.
In the 2006 New Year’s Honours List, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Dr. Sheldrick a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the first knighthood to be awarded in Kenya since the country received Independence in 1963.
Wildlife Trust
The wildlife trust founded in her late husband's name in 1977 has featured in the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's The Elephant Diaries series.
Film and Television
Sheldrick stars in the feature documentary Born to Be Wild 3DBorn to Be Wild 3D
Born to Be Wild 3D is a 2011 American nature documentary short film about orphaned orangutans and elephants. It's directed by David Lickley and written and produced by Drew Fellman. It was distributed in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX Pictures. The trailer was released in...
, released in April 2011.