Human/Wildlife Conflict

 

All photos and video credit: David Saruni

From Saruni:

"On Sunday, 13^th June, Loisaba Operations Station reported a sub-adult female elephant with a swollen front leg. The Security Manager contacted the Kenyan Wildlife Service and tasked the rangers at Papa 6 (a security post) to monitor the elephant. The following morning, the manager and a team of rangers went to look for her, patrolling from Ntumot all the way to Lorok and the Veranda area but by 15.00hrs the elephant had not been found. The teams continued, and at 15.46hrs she was found but by then it was too late for the vet to reach Loisaba - remembering that it gets dark at 18.30hrs on the dot every day!"

"The next day the female elephant was at Kivuka ta Juu and the Security Manager and rangers monitored the elephant while they waited for the vet to arrive. The elephant was anaesthetized with a dart, and the vet was able to inspect and treat her injury which turned out to be a deep and substantial bullet wound on the lower part of her leg. The bullets was removed and the wound was thoroughly cleaned before being packed with antibiotic cream."

"It is thought that this elephant had come in from outside Loisaba to the north, and, rather than being poached – she only has small tusks – was more likely to have been shot in an attempt to frighten her away from livestock. Such sub-adults – and weaners - often defend their herd and are less relaxed about being near humans and livestock than their older relatives."  

"The elephant managed to stand up after her treatment and the good news is that she now appears to be okay. She will be monitored for as long as possible and is easy to recognize with her blue-spray markings which will eventually wash off. She is young and otherwise healthy, and stands a very good chance of recovery."

Postscript: Very sadly, despite the team's very best efforts and a great deal of optimism, this elephant died the next day. Saruni, who was understandably emotionally and physically exhausted, has promised to update us.