World bids farewell to Daphne Sheldrick, a conservation icon and pioneer for African wildlife

Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick, conservationist and founder of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT who passed away on Thursday evening on April 12, 2018 after a long battle with breast cancer. [Photo: Courtesy]

World reknown conservationist, Daphne Sheldrick, also founder of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) died on Thursday after a long battle with breast cancer, her family said.

Breaking the news to the world, Angela Sheldrick, her daughter, said her legacy will live on.

“Daphne’s legacy is immeasurable and her passing will reverberate far and wide, because the difference she has made for conservation in Kenya is unparalleled. She will be sorely missed, but never forgotten and this is what Daphne drew the most comfort from in her final weeks, knowing that her memory and work would continue with the tiny steps of baby elephants for generations to come,” said Angela, who is CEO of the DSWT.

Born in Kenya in 1934, Daphne alongside her husband David, dedicated over 60 years of their life to the protection of Africa’s wildlife and some of the world’s most iconic and threatened animals. On passing of her husband David in 1977, Sheldrick founded the DSWT and for over the next 40 years, played a key role in raising awareness on conservation of elephants and rhinos.

Sheldrick was the first person to successfully hand raise a milk dependent new born elephant, and rhino, knowledge that has seen more than 230 orphaned elephants saved in Kenya, and countless other infant elephants in countries across Africa.

“She lived alongside elephants and learned to read their hearts, much as they read ours - she understood their fragility, intelligence, capacity to love, to grieve, to heal, to support one another and she took those lessons to the global stage.

Daphne leaves behind two daughters and four grandchildren.