Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a Kenya-based nonprofit (founded 1977) that rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants, rhinos, and other wildlife, and runs integrated anti-poaching, mobile veterinary, aerial surveillance, habitat protection, and community outreach programs funded by global individual donors through adoptions, donations, merchandise, and eco-lodges.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk does
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a Kenya-headquartered nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1977, operating an integrated portfolio of wildlife rescue, anti-poaching, veterinary, habitat protection, and community engagement programs across Kenya. Its flagship Orphans' Project has hand-raised and rewilded 327 orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and other species over nearly five decades, supported by a specialized aerial unit of 8 fixed-wing aircraft and 4 helicopters, 7 mobile veterinary units, 30 anti-poaching teams working jointly with Kenya Wildlife Service, and a Canine Unit of 4 trained tracker dogs. The Trust also operates habitat and water infrastructure including 41 boreholes, 530 km of fencelines employing beehive-based human-wildlife conflict mitigation, 14M+ indigenous trees propagated for reforestation, and 14M mangroves planted along Kenya's northern coast.
The organization's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack consisting of annual wildlife adoption subscriptions (US$50/year in the US, £35/year in the UK), one-time and recurring donations (with Gift Aid in the UK), online merchandise sales across regional storefronts (US, Global, Europe), legacy/estate giving, in-kind wish-list donations, and Sheldrick Lodges eco-tourism in the Tsavo wilderness. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a multi-regional website with IP-geotargeted content and currencies, complemented by earned media coverage in the Guardian, BBC, New York Times, National Geographic, and Washington Post. The Trust operates a network of affiliated registered charities — UK (Charity 1103836), USA (501(c)(3) EIN 30-0224549), and Canada (739215754 RR0001) — alongside its primary Kenyan operating entity, with Angela Sheldrick (daughter of founder David Sheldrick) serving as CEO.
The Trust's customer base spans individual conservation supporters globally, corporate CSR partners, rural Kenyan communities bordering national parks (beneficiaries of employment, education, and healthcare programs), and government partners led by Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service. Pricing is intentionally accessible to maximize adoption penetration, and the recurring adoption-plus-monthly-donation structure provides predictable revenue. Notably, the Trust does not publicly disclose audited revenue figures, and no funding rounds, traditional investors, or equity instruments exist given its nonprofit status.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk
- Legal name
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
- Website
- https://sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a Kenya-based nonprofit (founded 1977) that rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants, rhinos, and other wildlife, and runs integrated anti-poaching, mobile veterinary, aerial surveillance, habitat protection, and community outreach programs funded by global individual donors through adoptions, donations, merchandise, and eco-lodges.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response (BPAGAIAB), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)
Keywords
Where Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices6 records
Markets served
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Adoption Programs: Annual adoption packages for orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and other wildlife. Adopters receive personalized certificates, monthly updates, and Keeper's Diaries. Multiple adopters per orphan.
- Donations: One-time and monthly donations processed through the website. Includes Gift Aid option for UK taxpayers. In honor and in memory gift options available.
- Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling SWT merchandise, original watercolors by Angela Sheldrick, and commemorative print editions of Annual Newsletters. Regional shops for US, Global, and Europe.
- Legacy Giving: Planned giving through estates or trusts providing long-term investment in wildlife conservation with various tax advantage options.
- Eco Lodges: Sheldrick Lodges offering sustainable safari experiences in Tsavo wilderness that support field conservation initiatives.
- Wish List/Gift-in-Kind: In-kind donations through wish list program providing essential supplies for wildlife care and community programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Adoption - US Region |
| Subscription | Annual | Adoption - UK Region |
| Subscription | Monthly | Donations |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Sheldrick Lodges |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust operates the world's most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in Kenya, providing round-the-clock care, reintegration, and rewilding of orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and other species. It complements this with integrated anti-poaching teams, mobile veterinary units, aerial surveillance, habitat protection, water provision, and community outreach programs. Public support is delivered through an Orphan Adoption Programme, one-time and recurring donations, merchandise sales, and eco-lodge safari experiences.
Product overview
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust operates a multi-project wildlife conservation platform centered on its Orphans' Project, the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation programme in the world. Beyond the flagship Orphans' Project, the Trust runs an integrated portfolio of nine core conservation projects: Anti-Poaching Operations, the Canine Unit, Community Outreach, Saving Habitats, Mobile Veterinary Units, Water for Wildlife, Aerial Operations, and Sheldrick Lodges eco-tourism. The Orphans' Project feeds into and is supported by these complementary programmes, which together provide 360-degree protection for Kenya's wildlife. The Trust also offers a donor-facing Orphan Adoption Programme, an Online Shop for merchandise, and an external elephant communication tool called Hello In Elephant. The offering is structured as a platform of interdependent field programmes supported by public engagement mechanisms (adoptions, donations, e-commerce), rather than a single software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Orphans' Project A pioneering rescue, rehabilitation, and rewilding programme for orphaned elephants, rhinos, and other species in Kenya, providing round-the-clock specialist care until animals can be reintegrated into the wild.
- Anti-Poaching Operations A network of boots-on-the-ground anti-poaching teams operating in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), complemented by drone units and a specialist Canine Unit to patrol key habitats and prevent illegal wildlife activities.
- Canine Unit
- Community Outreach Conservation initiatives supporting rural communities bordering Kenya's National Parks, including school field trips, school lunch programs, tree planting, beehive fencelines for human-wildlife conflict mitigation, hospital donations, and student scholarships.
- Sheldrick Lodges (Eco Lodges)
- Saving Habitats
- Mobile Veterinary Units Seven fully equipped mobile veterinary units and a rapid response Sky Vet initiative operated with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) vets to treat sick and injured wildlife across Kenya, responding to snares, spear wounds, gunshot wounds, and other emergencies.
- Water for Wildlife
- Aerial Operations
- Orphan Adoption Programme
- Online Shop
Quantifiable outcome
- 327 orphans successfully raised to adulthood and rewilded
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Save the ElephantscoreResearch partner whose work on elephant aversion to bee sounds informed the beehive fenceline project for human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
- Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)corePrimary operational partner for all anti-poaching operations, veterinary units, and wildlife protection activities. SWT operates in partnership with KWS with joint operations teams, coordinated arrests, and shared law enforcement training at KWS academy in Manyani.
- Kenya Forest ServicecorePartner for habitat conservation and forest protection, particularly for Kibwezi Forest concession and mangrove regeneration projects along Kenya's northern coast.
- Mara Elephant ProjectsupportingConservation partner for Mau Forest operations with MEP/SWT Alpha Team jointly protecting elephant populations.
- Mount Kenya TrustsupportingConservation partner for Mount Kenya operations with Mobile Camping Team protecting wildlife in the region.
- Lamu Conservation TrustsupportingPartner for Amu Ranch operations and joint drought mitigation measures including water relief in Lamu Conservation Area.
- Mtito-Andei Sub-County HospitalsupportingCommunity healthcare partner receiving medical supplies, equipment, and ongoing water delivery support to enhance healthcare in Tsavo region.
Scale indicators26 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Save the Elephants: Kenya- and Samburu-based elephant conservation NGO and existing SWT research partner (since 2014) that combines field research, anti-poaching, and community programs — directly comparable in mission, geography, and conservation methodology.
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy: Large Kenyan conservancy combining wildlife sanctuary, anti-poaching, and community programs. Operates the only northern white rhino sanctuary in the world — closely parallels SWT's mix of intensive animal care, ranger operations, and community investment.
- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy: Kenya-based conservancy in northern Kenya running anti-poaching, rhino and Grevy's zebra protection, and community programs. Directly comparable as a Kenyan conservation operator with ranger forces, wildlife monitoring, and community engagement.
- Born Free Foundation: UK-registered wildlife charity operating sanctuaries, anti-poaching, and conservation projects across Africa and Asia. Comparable as a UK-based conservation nonprofit with elephant and big-cat sanctuary operations and similar fundraising footprint.
- Mara Elephant Project: Kenya-focused elephant protection NGO that partners with SWT via the MEP/SWT Alpha Team. Highly comparable in anti-poaching ranger operations, aerial surveillance, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation in the Greater Mara ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Wildlife Conservation Society: Large US-headquartered conservation organization operating global field programs across wildlife, forests, and oceans. Overlaps with SWT in wildlife protection, anti-poaching, and veterinary care but operates across many geographies and species.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global wildlife conservation organization with active Kenya programs on elephants and rhinos. Compares on broad mission but differs as WWF is far larger, more diversified, and less focused on direct hands-on orphan rehabilitation.
- African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation NGO with field programs across the continent including Kenya, focused on habitat protection, wildlife conservation, and community partnerships — comparable in mission scope but operates across many countries and species.
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Major US-based zoological and conservation organization running wildlife conservation programs globally including Kenya. Compares on veterinary care, species recovery, and conservation fundraising but operates through zoo-based revenue rather than donation-first model.
Emerging players
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation: Specialist NGO focused exclusively on giraffe conservation across Africa. While narrower in species focus than SWT, it overlaps on the Orphans' Project's giraffe adoptions, rewilding methodology, and East African field operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk social profiles
Digital presenceSheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk
What does Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk do?
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust operates the world's most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in Kenya, providing round-the-clock care, reintegration, and rewilding of orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and other species. It complements this with integrated anti-poaching teams, mobile veterinary units, aerial surveillance, habitat protection, water provision, and community outreach programs. Public support is delivered through an Orphan Adoption Programme, one-time and recurring donations, merchandise sales, and eco-lodge safari experiences.
Is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk a public or private company?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk founded?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk was founded in 1977.
Where is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk based?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Adoption Programs are the primary driver. The others are donations, merchandise Sales, legacy Giving, eco Lodges and wish List/Gift-in-Kind.
Who are Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Save the Elephants, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Born Free Foundation and Mara Elephant Project. Broad incumbents are Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), African Wildlife Foundation and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Giraffe Conservation Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk.
What industry is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk in?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Uk's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAC, Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAB, Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8300.