Has fully embraced his wild life in Tsavo East National Park
Current age
12 years old
Gender
Male
Rescued date
25 November 2016
Rescue location
Maasai Mara, Naboisho Conservancy
Date of birth (estimate)
14 October 2012
Reason orphaned
Poaching
Age at rescue
4 years old (approx)
Current location
Living Wild
His size was a complicating factor, as he was a big elephant, bigger than what we can rescue normally by plane, and logistically it would be a challenge. With that in mind the months passed, and in that time he would remain close to the properties and people for protection, painfully aware of his vulnerability without the protection of his herd, in an area with plenty of predators.
When you know elephants whose whole life and social structure revolves around the demonstrative nurturing touch of family, living a lonely and isolated life out on the plains of the Masai Mara must have been a very frightening existence for one so young. Soon he became a target for lions, and he survived three separate lion attacks, two times saved by a herd of buffalo who he chose to hang out with for company, who stampeded when the lions attacked, causing the lions to think again. His most recent attack left his behind chewed up and him without a tail, with significant wounds from claws and teeth in his back. For everybody who had to witness his struggle, it was time to move mountains in order to save him, as he was orphaned unnaturally in the first place, with his mother killed at the hands of humans.
Finally when they arrived at the Nursery he was off loaded again, requiring all hands on deck once more and placed in a stockade. Before he was unstrapped he was medicated further and his wounds dressed. Finally he was unstrapped and he rose to his feet confused by his ordeal, but still calm from the tranquilizing drug. He began to feed from the outset and once the other orphans arrived to their night stockades he settled down further, communicating with all those around him.
His size was a complicating factor, as he was a big elephant, bigger than what we can rescue normally by plane, and logistically it would be a challenge. With that in mind the months passed, and in that time he would remain close to the properties and people for protection, painfully aware of his vulnerability without the protection of his herd, in an area with plenty of predators.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
We are extremely sad to report that our fight to heal Dupotto has come to an end and she died on Monday evening, 19th August, just before 7.00pm. Having yesterday informed Dupotto’s foster parents of her passing, so that they might have a moment to process this most difficult news, we now wish to inform our wider supporter family.
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