Becoming Elephant: The Orphans of Reteti

Produced by PASSION Planet for PBS Nature (WNET) & Love Nature.

Becoming Elephant: The Orphans of Reteti is set in the wild north of Kenya, where a groundbreaking blueprint in conservation is under way. This touching documentary series follows the remarkable journey of orphaned elephants at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first community-owned and -operated elephant sanctuary in Africa. These young elephants, rescued after losing their mothers to accidents, drought, or human-wildlife violence, are raised by Samburu men and women who care for them as their own. They nurture these young elephants with patience, care, and deep ancestral knowledge to get them back on their feet and ready for life in the wild. From tiny calves taking their first bottles from their human carers, to adolescents preparing for release, this series captures the elephants’ intimate moments of struggle, healing, and transformation. It also shows how local community members are creating a unique, thoughtful new model of conservation from the ground up.