#10Guardians; Meet Loijipu’s Heroine Salome Lemalasia

Salome with Loijipu. Photo: TonyWild-NRT

When Sera Community Conservancy offered Salome Lemalasia a position as a rhino calf caregiver, quite understandably, she was hesitant at first. The prospect of looking after a wild animal with a reputation of being hostile towards humans didn’t appeal to the 28-year-old ranger.

But Salome's fears were dispelled after she accepted the job offer and met Loijipu. The young black rhino was 18 months old at the time. Little Loijipu followed Salome around, reluctant to leave her side. Around her, he was himself, but around the other rhino keepers in the Conservancy, he was shy. Salome quickly realized that she held a responsibility towards the adorable little fellow as he had chosen her as his new mom.

Loijipu's natural mother abandoned him 48 hours after his birth in February 2017, when a team of researchers went too close to the pair and frightened them. Sera Community Conservancy, where this incident occurred, entrusted Loijipu to the care of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Namunyak Community Conservancy until 2018, when he matured and was translocated back to Sera. Upon his arrival, Sera Community Conservancy members gave him a colorful welcome. Salome has taken care of him since his return to Sera, which is currently home to 19 black rhinos.

Salome and Loijipu have formed an inseparable bond. “I’m like a mom to him. I know when he’s hungry, sleepy, on edge, or ill,” says Salome. She has to stay close to him to monitor him daily. She also assists veterinarians in administering drugs to him when he is unwell. Interestingly, when Loijipu misbehaves, he is disciplined by his ‘mom’. “Sometimes, when we have visitors, he becomes naughty and attempts to charge at them. I scold him, and he toes the line,” Salome explains.

Loijipu, whose name means ‘the one who follows’ in Samburu, turned five in February. For his safety, he mainly stays in his fenced enclosure. Occasionally he is allowed to roam outside of it, usually in Salome’s company.

Loijipu’s wild instincts have now fully developed, particularly his sense of hearing and smell. He distinguishes Salome from other rangers and visitors using his olfactory senses. When the two are out in the wild together, he grunts and stamps his feet to warn Salome of approaching wildlife.

Salome’s work isn’t for the faint-hearted. During the day, she battles the Samburu rangelands’ scorching heat, and at night, she wakes up several times to check on Loijipu. Add this to the ever-present danger of Loijipu venturing too far from his enclosure and being attacked by grown rhinos, and it's all enough to make anyone want to give up, but Salome doesn’t. Her love for Loijipu keeps her going. She is a true heroine of community-led conservation.