A notoriously wily elephant, she also has a wonderful nurturing side
Current age
8 years old
Gender
Female
Rescued date
30 October 2017
Rescue location
Tsavo Ecosystem, Tsavo East National Park
Date of birth (estimate)
15 April 2017
Reason orphaned
Drought related
Age at rescue
6 months old (approx)
Current location
Umani Springs Reintegration Unit
A few days earlier while on an aerial patrol he had reported the sighting of a dead female who had succumbed to the effects of drought not far from this very same location. Concerned that something was not quite right with this picture, he reported the matter to both the Kenya Wildlife Service and also to the SWT Kaluku operations room so that SWT pilot Andy Payne could fly in the helicopter to take a closer look and confirm that he was accurate in his assessment of the situation.
GPS coordinates of the location of the two bulls and baby were shared while Neville continued on to complete his patrol in the south where the drought had really taken hold, with numerous elephants dying as a result of a lack of food due to failed rains. It was confirmed that they were indeed two bull elephants with a tiny baby and that there were no females or other elephants in the area. Neville coordinated with KWS Veterinary Officer Dr. Jeremiah Poghon working with the SWT funded Mobile Veterinary Unit based in Tsavo, to be flown to the closest airstrip which was in fact on the north bank of the Galana River. The Trust’s Mtito Desnaring team which works together with KWS was directed to the location as well.
KWS Vet Dr. Poghon was collected by Neville and flown from the Voi headquarters to the closest airstrip, this was however quite a distance from where the trio of elephants were on the southern bank. On arrival they were met by Andy in the helicopter and flown to where the Mtito Team with their vehicle waited for guidance from the air. Dr. Poghon agreed that without a rescue this young baby would not survive, but first flew around to confirm once again that there were no other elephants within the area.
Given the open terrain it was not difficult to gently separate the bulls from the baby with the helicopter so that our ground team could drive up to the baby and capture her safely. She was still strong, but little time was wasted while they prepared the stretcher and tied her legs so that she could be safely loaded into the helicopter and flown directly to the Trust’s Nairobi Nursery. With the back seats removed there was ample space for the calf and a team member to sit in the back of the aircraft offering her comfort throughout the one hour flight.
For weeks she would try to return to the stockades during the day, sneaking away from the group to do so, but over the months she has settled into the routine, with Tagwa paying her close and special attention.
A few days earlier while on an aerial patrol he had reported the sighting of a dead female who had succumbed to the effects of drought not far from this very same location. Concerned that something was not quite right with this picture, he reported the matter to both the Kenya Wildlife Service and also to the SWT Kaluku operations room so that SWT pilot Andy Payne could fly in the helicopter to take a closer look and confirm that he was accurate in his assessment of the situation.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Our extended elephant family continues to grow! Zongoloni has given birth to a beautiful baby boy — her first calf and our fourth Umani grandchild.
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