Naromoru the bull has earned himself quite a reputation across Kenya — in fact, his antics have carried him many hundred kilometres!
Bulls are known for being mischievous — striking intellect, innate cleverness, and enormous size and strength can be a potent combination — but Naromoru takes it to the next level. This unruly elephant started up country, in the heart of Kenya’s Rift Valley. He became notorious for his pesky activities, destroying infrastructure and generally inviting himself where he wasn’t wanted. His antics put himself at risk and caused problems for those trying to protect the landscape. To avoid further trouble, KWS decided to relocate Naromoru to Tsavo West National Park. He was fitted with a collar by Save the Elephants and made the journey south earlier this year.
Unfortunately, everyone underestimated Naromoru's commitment to chaos. Despite a relatively quiet debut in his new home, he was soon back to his old tricks. He took up residence near the rhino sanctuary, a designated zone for rhino conservation within Tsavo West. He was constantly breaking and entering, leaving a wake of destruction in his path. Knowing he would just force his way in anyway, the team resorted to leaving the gate open, in order to spare the inevitable damage.
However, this was clearly not a long-term solution. Naromoru needed a new home — one in a remote, protected location, where he couldn’t get himself into trouble. Ideally, it would be a place with lots of bulls, who would both befriend him and perhaps keep his behaviour in check.
Luckily, we had just the spot: Ithumba, which sits in the vast, northern sector of Tsavo East National Park. It is a relatively undeveloped part of the park, far from any communities. It is also a favourite destination for Tsavo bulls. Naromoru would have plenty of space to roam and make friends, yet very little opportunity to cause mischief.
With the go-ahead from KWS, we mobilised our Elephant Translocation Unit. The move was planned for Wednesday, 27th September 2023. Translocations are always complex operations, and given the not-insignificant distance Naromoru would be travelling (though not anywhere near as far as his initial journey from Laikipia to Tsavo West took him!), we carefully planned every detail in advance.
And so, Naromoru's operation unfolded as follows:
4:15 AM: The SWT crane truck departed from our Kaluku Field Headquarters. It needed to leave as early as possible, because it drives slowly — especially along rugged park roads.
4:30 AM: The rest of the Kaluku crew departed from headquarters, along with the Canine Unit. Meanwhile, the SWT/KWS Chyulu Anti-Poaching Team left camp in order to assist the main road escort. Dr Limo and the rest of the SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit departed from Voi, while the SWT backhoe and personnel departed from Rhino Valley Lodge.
5:45 AM: At first light, our fixed-wing pilot took flight to find Naromoru from the air. (The bull’s collar only updates periodically, so while we had a good idea of his general locus, we needed to ascertain his precise location.)
6:00 AM: All ground teams converged at Rhino Base in Tsavo West National Park, meeting at Naromoru's last known location.
6:15 AM: Our fixed-wing pilot spots Naromoru about four kilometres from Rhino Base. The SWT helicopter mobilises to the scene.
7:00 AM: From the helicopter, Dr Limo darts Naromoru. Meanwhile, all ground teams drive to the bull’s location.
7:15 AM: Naromoru succumbs to the anaesthetic, conveniently close to the road. He falls asleep semi-standing, so the team must gently coax him to the ground. As soon as he is down, they ensure his airways are open and keep him cool with regular dousings of water.
7:20 AM: The backhoe clears the way, so the crane truck can drive directly to Naromoru's side.
7:35 AM: With the crane truck in position, the team secures custom elephant straps around Naromoru's legs. These are then attached to the crane, which gently lifts its giant cargo onto the flatbed.
7:55 AM: Fully secured onboard, Naromoru is ready to hit the road. Two members of the SWT/KWS veterinary team remain by his side throughout the journey to ensure his welfare from departure to destination.
8:00 AM - 11:20 AM: Naromoru and his entourage travel from Tsavo West to Tsavo East, a distance of some 170 kilometres. Although the journey was mostly along park roads, it did require a short stint on the Mombasa Highway. As traffic whizzed by in both directions, Naromoru slept on the flatbed, unaware of everything unfolding around him.
11:25 AM: The caravan pulls into the Ithumba mud bath, which is a hive of activity between the orphans, ex-orphans, and visiting wild elephants. Wasting no time, the crane gently lifts Naromoru off the flatbed and onto the ground.
11:35 AM: Once the straps are removed from his legs, Dr Limo administers the anaesthetic reversal. Everyone stands back and waits for Naromoru to wake up.
11:25 AM: With a bit of help from the vet vehicle, Naromoru slowly gets to his feet. His left front leg is asleep after the long journey, which makes it difficult for him to move. Several bulls approach to say hello. While this initially unsettles Naromoru, he soon realises they come with friendly intentions. Ex-orphan Challa, who is always so inclusive, is part of the welcoming committee.
11:50 AM: While he waits for feeling to return to his front leg, we ensure Naromoru remains cool by dousing him with water from the water bowser. The wild bulls remain very attentive, which bodes well for Naromoru's friendship prospects in Ithumba.
12:25 PM: As feeling slowly returns to his leg, Naromoru wades into the Ithumba pool, where the water instantly has a cooling effect.
1:00 PM: Naromoru continues to hang around the Ithumba mud bath, taking time to settle in and understand his new home.
3:10 PM: Naromoru disappears into the surrounding wilderness. That evening, the Ithumba team hears him crashing through the bush — while he hasn’t been causing trouble, he is certainly making his presence known in his new home!
Elephant translocations are a last-resort, but they are also a life-saving resort. Given his penchant for mischief, there is a high chance that Naromoru's story would have ended in tragedy, had we not intervened. Fortunately, we were able to give him a viable path forward. Now safely settled in Ithumba, this notorious bull’s future is looking bright — and, we hope, trouble-free!