It unfolded on Earth Day — just another day at the office for our team. During his morning patrol, our pilot spotted a bull with an arrow wound. The injury didn’t appear too serious, but his poor body condition was cause for concern. We mobilised a treatment to investigate further.

Once the bull was darted, it became clear that there was much more to his situation than we realised. Two large chunks had been hacked out of his trunk, and he had several more arrow wounds on his body — including one, unusually, beneath his chin.

The nature and location of the injuries painted a confusing picture. Elephants injured in human-wildlife conflict typically sustain wounds on their back. The fact that his face was injured suggested he had been struck head-on.

Only the elephant knows exactly what unfolded, but here’s what we think happened: The bull was likely struck with an arrow during conflict on community land. Angry and frightened, he then charged the person holding the bow, who escaped by climbing a tree. As the bull reached up to pursue his attacker, his trunk was slashed by a sharp blade or farm tool, and then he was arrowed again, this time beneath the chin. That would explain the unusual placement of his wounds.

Although the bull was in a bad way when we found him, treatment was straightforward. Now that he’s had proper veterinary care, KWS vet Dr Limo is confident that he will make a full recovery.

This is also a reminder to never take a scenario at face-value — there is often more than meets the eye! Thanks to our teams for always digging deeper, and to our donors for making that possible.