ENDANGERED: Fine Art & Photography Contest 2022 Submission - Fine Art Category

Football Buddies depicts an orphaned elephant calf and keeper chasing after a soccer ball. The keeper is Edwin Lusichi Project Manager - Nairobi Orphan Nursery of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) in Nairobi Kenya. Calves are orphaned for many reasons mostly because of poaching to feed the illegal ivory trade. The fortunate ones are brought to the SWT where they are cared for and eventually reintroduced into the wild a process that takes many years. The calves' days are spent playing and exploring the bush always watched over by the keepers.