To catch giraffes, poachers set snares — loops of wire designed to tighten when an animal becomes trapped — in the branches of their favoured trees. As a giraffe stoops to browse, its head is caught and the wire tightens around the neck. The result is a slow and painful death.

Fortunately, our eagle-eyed pilot spotted this snared giraffe in time. After calling in the report, our SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit was flown to the scene. They had to work fast — because of their unique physiology, giraffes cannot be fully sedated. After darting the patient from the air, the team moved in to cut away the snare, treat the injury, and send the patient on his way.

He will make a full recovery!