This poor giraffe was speared in the hind leg, likely in a case of human-wildlife conflict. He was struck between his tibia bone and Achilles tendon, where the spear remained precariously lodged. Fortunately, he was spotted by a Big Life ranger who happened to be off duty, visiting his home near the foothills of Kilimanjaro.

As soon as we received the report from Big Life, we mobilised a treatment. The weather wasn’t working in our favour — dark clouds loomed on the horizon, and the SWT helicopter had to dodge rolling storms as the team made their way south.

With the giraffe in sight, Dr Limo of the SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit darted him from the air, while ground teams moved in to rope him down. (Blink and you’ll miss it, but you can spot Roan retrieving the spear, which dislodged during the chase.)

As soon as the patient was recumbent, we reversed the anaesthetic, which is necessary due to the unique physiology of the species. Then came the small matter of treating an increasingly lucid, full-grown giraffe.

But the team works fast — and has even faster reflexes. They managed to hold down the patient’s leg, which was doing its best to kick everyone in the vicinity, and cleaned the wound in record time. As the spear hadn’t caused permanent damage to the bone or tendon, Dr Limo is optimistic that the giraffe will make a full recovery.

Watch the giraffe spring to his feet at the end, and you’ll see just how much pent up power we were contending with! We’re grateful we could help him in his hour of need.