Michael Moshan is the president of Haven Tusk Title, a New York-based title company and closing services. Striving to generate a positive societal impact, and under Michael Moshan's leadership, Haven Tusk directs 10 percent of the company earnings to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT).
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a conservation organization particularly concerned with protecting endangered populations of elephants and black rhinos. The Trust pursues this mission in large part through the Orphan’s Project, which seeks to rescue and rehabilitate baby elephants and rhinos throughout Kenya.
Since its inception, the organization has rescued over 150 baby elephants, hand raising them with financial support from participants in its fostering program. One of the most recent additions to this life-saving program is Maisha, a baby elephant saved from an incredibly dire situation in Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park.
On September 5, 2017, park rangers observed a young elephant calf collapse after struggling to reach a watering hole in an area ravaged by drought. Knowing that time was of the essence, the rangers contacted the DSWT mobile veterinary unit, who quickly arrived on the scene.
After delivering emergency medical care in the field, DSWT vets transported the young elephant to stockades where she could receive shelter from the sun. Soon after, they transported her by plane to Nariobi National Park.
Despite the best efforts of the DSWT team, the calf’s condition failed to improve. They worked tirelessly to keep her warm, hydrated, and stimulated until finally, at around midnight, the young elephant was able to stand on her own and drink from a bottle. Her condition only improved from that moment, and the calf has since bonded with another young elephant at the shelter named Emoli.
Named after the Swahili word for “life,” Maisha’s condition has only improved since then, and the calf has even bonded with another young elephant named Emoli. Her story is a prime example of the incredible work conducted by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
