{"id":21422,"date":"2026-10-14T12:10:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T12:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=21422"},"modified":"2026-10-14T12:10:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T12:10:43","slug":"the-women-putting-community-at-the-heart-of-elephant-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=21422","title":{"rendered":"The women putting community at the heart of elephant conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten:<\/strong> This is a summary of an article from Positive News, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.<\/p>\n

Positive News • Robin Eveleigh • October 6, 2026<\/strong><\/div>\n\n

Dorothy Lowakutuk became one of Africa’s first female elephant keepers at Reteti, a sanctuary in north Kenya owned by local Samburu people. The site serves as part of a movement placing community members at the center of conservation efforts. Reteti was founded in 2016 by Samburu elders and Sri Lankan-born conservationist Katie Rowe. Its board consists of 90% local community members, with funding partners including the Sarara Foundation, the Kenyan Wildlife Service, and Save the Elephants. Revenue from tourism is split: 40% covers operating costs, while 60% funds community projects.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Lowakutuk worked at Reteti after studying for a diploma in community development and social work. She helped prepare milk for baby elephants and later became a visitor guide and keeper. Her role involves long nights sleeping beside sick animals and days leading them on bush walks until they are seven to nine years old, at which point they return to the wild. Since opening, Reteti has reunited 60 stranded calves with their mothers and returned 13 young elephants to the rangelands last year.<\/p>\n

The sanctuary employs 110 staff from Samburu communities and works with over 1,250 local "milk mamas" who supply more than 20,000 litres of goat milk monthly. Last year, nearly $342k was paid directly to Samburu women, many of whom now hold their own bank accounts. This income has funded classrooms, bursaries, and a touring Montessori school. Resson Duff, portfolio funding director at Maliasili, notes that tangible gains like jobs and education give communities a lasting stake in protecting wildlife.<\/p>\n

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Source:<\/strong> Positive News • Robin Eveleigh • October 6, 2026<\/p>\n

Read the original article at Positive News →<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Positive News, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story. Positive News • Robin Eveleigh • October 6, 2026 Dorothy Lowakutuk became one of Africa’s first female elephant<\/p>\n

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