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Kenyan park rangers rescue baby giraffe from crocodile infested river

Source: Jelly Lolojo/WildlifeDirect

Rangers at Samburu National Park in Kenya were snapped as they risked their own lives to rescued a baby giraffe that got stuck in a river swarming with crocodiles. The picture was overall winner in a ‘Humans Helping Nature’ photo competition.

Humans Helping Nature – Nature’s Treasures Photo Competition

Last month, the #WILDLIFEWARRIORS PHOTO COMPETITION on the theme HUMANS HELPING NATURE received 70 photos from 27 different photographers. The judges were moved by the stories behind each image. The winners captured three different themes of how humans are making the planet a better place by planting trees, rescuing wildlife, and cleaning up our rivers.

The image was taken by tour guide Jelly Lolojo on his friend Mike Lesiil’s camera.
OVERALL WINNER: Jelly Lolojo for a beautiful image of a giraffe rescue operation. The image was taken by tour guide Jelly Lolojo on his friend Mike Lesiil’s camera. Source: Jelly Lolojo/wildlifedirect.org

Tour guide Jelly Lolojo captured a beautiful image of a baby giraffe rescue operation

The winning image above was taken by tour guide Jelly Lolojo on his friend Mike Lesiil’s camera. WildlifeDirect spoke to both of them on the story behind this image.

Mike Lesiil: We were on a game drive and on the way we saw a baby giraffe stuck in the Ewaso Ngiro River. The baby giraffe was in danger as there were crocodiles that were attacking its hind legs. I asked Jelly, who was driving at the time, how we could rescue the giraffe. We crossed to the other side of the river to look for assistance and with the help of a ranger, we went into the raging waters to rescue the baby giraffe. I held the giraffe’s front legs and tried to pull the baby giraffe away from the jaws of the crocodiles. I used my blade which I tied to a stick to scare the crocodiles away. The giraffe’s mother was standing nearby waiting for her baby. For the giraffe mom to accept her child, I covered the baby giraffe with soil and the mother giraffe accepted her baby back.

Mike Lesiil is a ranger and currently works in Maralal in a Sanctuary where he is educating people on the importance of wildlife.

Jelly Lolojo, a professional safari guide in Samburu:  “Mike and I had clients that we were taking for a game drive when we saw the baby giraffe stuck in the middle of the river. When mike went to rescue it, I picked up his camera and took the picture because I was so impressed with his courage. He is a very brave warrior and is passionate about wildlife. I was very worried about him while he was rescuing the baby giraffe because the river has crocodiles.”

Source: WildlifeDirect.org

This is a mangrove rehabilitation project where the communities around Mida Creek have seedbeds that they sell to generate some income and also plant in areas where there is the degradation of the mangrove forest. The community plant mangroves which are as breeding sites for fish and crabs and also a source of timber.
RUNNER UP #1: Ashikoye Okoko for a beautiful scene of mangrove tree planting by the community in Mida Creek. This is a mangrove rehabilitation project where the communities around Mida Creek have seedbeds that they sell to generate some income and also plant in areas where there is the degradation of the mangrove forest. The community plant mangroves which are as breeding sites for fish and crabs and also a source of timber. Source: Ashikoye Okoko/wildlifedirect.org
“I took this photo during a clean-up activity along Nairobi River in Baba Ndogo around Lakisama Area. I was moved by the sight of a volunteer struggling to remove plastic waste from the river.”
RUNNER UP #2: John Nigen for a captivating image of a river clean-up activity in Nairobi. “I took this photo during a clean-up activity along Nairobi River in Baba Ndogo around Lakisama Area. I was moved by the sight of a volunteer struggling to remove plastic waste from the river.” Source: John Nigen/wildlifedirect.org
The photo was taken during a tree planting activity with Kijani Gang in a school in Kiserian. We were teaching the children how to plant the trees. Shiru is a very active member of Kijani Gang, a group of young Kenyans who use their talents and passions to conserve nature and wildlife.
The JUNIOR CATEGORY WINNER (age 15 and below): Shiru Ndegwa for a beautiful image of children preparing for a tree planting activity. The photo was taken during a tree planting activity with Kijani Gang in a school in Kiserian. We were teaching the children how to plant the trees. Shiru is a very active member of Kijani Gang, a group of young Kenyans who use their talents and passions to conserve nature and wildlife. Source: Shiru Ndegwa/wildlifedirect.org
The rhino is Baraka, a blind Rhino from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. He was being escorted to a platform where tourists can have a close encounter with him.
Honorable Mention: Marto Wanjohi took this image because he was fascinated by the ranger escorting the rhino. The rhino is Baraka, a blind Rhino from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. He was being escorted to a platform where tourists can have a close encounter with him. Source: Marto Wanjohi/wildlifedirect.org/
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