The cow had multiple horrific arrow injuries, and due to septicaemia the prognosis regarding her recovery was very guarded. She was immobilised for treatment and meanwhile the calf remained nearby. When revived she was too weak to be able to stand, despite being helped with straps around her tusks, and she slipped away before everyone’s eyes. 

All attention now focused on rescuing her still milk dependent calf and the Voi Keepers and Anti-Poaching Team, together with SWT Field Manager Trevor Jennings were called to assist. Once the teams arrived they were able to capture the female calf without anesthetisation and she was loaded into the waiting Landcruiser and driven slowly back through the Park to the Voi stockades where she was placed in a taming stockade. 

The presence of the other orphans had a calming effect on the newcomer and she instantly took milk from a bucket. It was a couple of days before she was sufficiently tame to take milk from a hand held bottle but once this had been accomplished she settled rapidly. We gave her the name ‘Araba’ meaning Elephant in the Waliangulu tribal language and estimated her age on arrival to be just under two years old, still very much a milk dependent candidate.