Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a Kenya-based nonprofit founded in 1977 operating the world's leading orphan elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation program, integrated with 28 anti-poaching teams, an aerial fleet of 12 aircraft, 7 mobile veterinary units, and habitat protection across 2+ million acres, funded by global individual donors, a $50/year adoption program, corporate partners, and merchandise sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
- Legal name
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
- Website
- https://sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a Kenya-based nonprofit founded in 1977 operating the world's leading orphan elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation program, integrated with 28 anti-poaching teams, an aerial fleet of 12 aircraft, 7 mobile veterinary units, and habitat protection across 2+ million acres, funded by global individual donors, a $50/year adoption program, corporate partners, and merchandise sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- 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), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
Keywords
Where Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Corporate Partnerships: Businesses can partner with the trust through various corporate engagement programs, with matching gift programs available through employers.
- Donations and Adoptions: Individual supporters adopt orphans for US$50/year, providing recurring revenue. One-time and monthly donations are processed online. Adoptions include personalized certificates, monthly updates, and keeper diaries.
- Online Merchandise Sales: Online shops (Global, US, UK, Europe regions) sell merchandise including annual newsletters, watercolors by Angela Sheldrick, and other conservation-themed products. Proceeds support conservation work.
- Legacy Gifts: Planned giving through estates or trusts, providing long-term critical resources for conservation. Various tax-advantaged options available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Adoption program - US$50/year per orphan |
| Subscription | Monthly | One-time or monthly donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust rescues, rehabilitates, and reintegrates orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and other wildlife, while running anti-poaching teams, mobile veterinary units, aerial surveillance, and habitat protection programs across Kenya. Donor-facing offerings include the Orphan Adoption Program (US$50/year), online merchandise sales, and eco-lodge tourism, all financing the operational conservation work.
Product overview
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust operates a comprehensive conservation portfolio centered on its pioneering Orphans' Project, which rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants, rhinos, and other species. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including Anti-Poaching Operations, Aerial Surveillance, Canine Unit, Mobile Veterinary Units, Community Outreach, Water for Wildlife, and Saving Habitats. The Eco Lodges provide sustainable tourism supporting conservation, while the Orphan Adoption Program enables public engagement. Together, these programs form an integrated approach to wildlife conservation across Kenya.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Water for Wildlife Water relief program providing boreholes, water bowsers, and dams in arid conservation areas suffering from drought and limited rainfall to support wildlife populations.
- Orphan Adoption Program Symbolic adoption program allowing supporters to foster orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and hippos for US$50/year, receiving monthly updates, certificates, and Keeper's Diaries.
- Orphans' Project Round-the-clock rescue, rehabilitation, and rewilding programme for orphaned elephants, rhinos, and other species, preparing them for reintegration into protected wilderness areas.
- Anti-Poaching Operations Ground-based anti-poaching teams patrolling Kenya's key habitats to protect wildlife, prevent illegal activities, and apprehend poachers, operating in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service.
- Aerial Surveillance Unit Daily aerial patrols using a fleet of eight fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters for wildlife monitoring, anti-poaching rapid response, veterinary interventions, and wildlife rescues.
- Canine Unit Specialist tracker dogs deployed to detect illegal wildlife products such as ivory, rhino horn, bushmeat, guns, and ammunition, and to follow poacher tracks in support of anti-poaching operations.
- Mobile Veterinary Units Seven fully equipped mobile veterinary units plus the Sky Vet rapid response initiative, treating sick and injured wildlife across Kenya for snares, spear wounds, arrow and gunshot wounds, and human-wildlife conflict injuries.
- Community Outreach Program Conservation initiatives supporting rural communities bordering Kenya's National Parks through education programs, school field trips, school lunches, scholarships, and employment opportunities.
- Saving Habitats Habitat protection initiatives including fencelines, reforestation, and partnerships with Kenya Forest Service and Kenya Wildlife Service to secure Kenya's wild habitats.
- Eco Lodges Sustainable safari experiences in Tsavo wilderness supporting field conservation initiatives, with proceeds directed to conservation work.
- Online Merchandise Sales Regional online shops selling annual newsletters, watercolors by Angela Sheldrick, and conservation-themed merchandise, with proceeds supporting the Trust's conservation work.
Quantifiable outcome
- 327 orphans successfully raised and reintegrated
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Mara Elephant ProjectminorConservation partner funding MEP/SWT Alpha Team operating in Mau Forest. Joint anti-poaching operations in Mara ecosystem.
- Mount Kenya TrustminorConservation partner for Mobile Camping Team operations in Mount Kenya, with joint anti-poaching and conservation initiatives.
- Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)corePrimary government partner operating since 1977. KWS rangers accompany anti-poaching teams, make arrests, and collaborate on all field operations including aerial surveillance, veterinary units, and anti-poaching activities. The trust funds partner-operated conservation units across Kenya's key ecosystems.
- Lamu Conservation TrustminorCollaboration on tree-planting initiative regenerating coastal mangrove forests along Kenya's northern coast. Over 14 million mangroves planted to date. Joint drought mitigation efforts in Lamu Conservation Area.
- Kenya Forest ServicecorePartner in securing Kenya's unique wild habitats including Kibwezi Forest where SWT holds 30-year conservation concession. Joint protection and sustainability initiatives.
- Lamu Conservation TrustminorCollaboration on water relief operations in Lamu Conservation Area, strategically positioning 25+ troughs for daily refilling during drought periods.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Amboseli Elephant Research Project / Amboseli Trust for Elephants: Long-running Kenya-based elephant research and conservation trust; directly comparable to SWT as a single-country African elephant-focused nonprofit with similar donor-driven funding and field operations.
- Save the Elephants: Kenya-headquartered elephant conservation organization focused on research, anti-poaching, and habitat protection; comparable to SWT in mission, geography, and individual-donor fundraising model. Already a research collaborator of SWT.
- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy: Kenya-based rhino and broader wildlife conservancy running anti-poaching, community, and habitat programs funded by international donors; comparable to SWT in operating model, geography, and ecosystem focus.
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy: Large Kenyan conservancy combining anti-poaching, rhino protection, and community programs with donor-supported funding; directly comparable in scope and target donor base to SWT's integrated conservation approach.
- Tsavo Trust: Kenya-based conservation NGO operating within the Tsavo ecosystem alongside SWT; directly comparable as a regional wildlife and habitat protection nonprofit with similar anti-poaching and community engagement activities.
- Big Life Foundation: East African (Kenya-Tanzania) anti-poaching and community conservation NGO operating ranger teams and predator protection; closely comparable in mission and operating model to SWT's anti-poaching operations.
- Mara Elephant Project: Kenya-based elephant-focused nonprofit running anti-poaching ranger teams in the Mara ecosystem; explicitly partnered with SWT (Mara Elephant Project/SWT Alpha Team) and directly comparable in scope and donor base.
Broad incumbents
- African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation nonprofit operating across multiple countries with anti-poaching, habitat, and community programs; comparable as a larger, broader-scope peer targeting overlapping international donor audiences.
- International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): Global animal welfare and wildlife conservation nonprofit with rescue, anti-poaching, and policy programs; comparable to SWT as a multi-region nonprofit with similar individual donor and adoption-style fundraising tactics.
- Wildlife Conservation Society: Global wildlife conservation organization operating field programs across multiple continents including Africa; comparable to SWT as a much larger incumbent with overlapping mission and donor base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust social profiles
Digital presenceSheldrick Wildlife Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust 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
What does Sheldrick Wildlife Trust do?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust rescues, rehabilitates, and reintegrates orphaned elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and other wildlife, while running anti-poaching teams, mobile veterinary units, aerial surveillance, and habitat protection programs across Kenya. Donor-facing offerings include the Orphan Adoption Program (US$50/year), online merchandise sales, and eco-lodge tourism, all financing the operational conservation work.
Is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust a public or private company?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sheldrick Wildlife Trust founded?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was founded in -1.
Where is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust based?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Sheldrick Wildlife Trust make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Corporate Partnerships are the primary driver. The others are donations and Adoptions, online Merchandise Sales and legacy Gifts.
Who are Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Amboseli Elephant Research Project / Amboseli Trust for Elephants, Save the Elephants, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Tsavo Trust, Big Life Foundation and Mara Elephant Project. Broad incumbents are African Wildlife Foundation, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Wildlife Conservation Society.
Does Sheldrick Wildlife Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
What industry is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in?
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust'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.