A large wild male elephant and two of his companions were wounded by poisoned arrows when poachers attacked them. The male elephant and his friends escaped and he took them on a journey to a place he knew could help the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s rehabilitation centre.
Photo credit: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
The male elephant had never been a resident at the Ithumba Reintegration Centre, but somehow he knew the people there could help. Maybe it’s because he had sired two babies – Mwende and Yetu – with two former orphaned elephants who had been rescued at the centre.
“We are sure that Mwende’s father knew that if they returned to the stockades they would get the help and treatment they needed because this continuously happens with the injured bulls in the north; they all come to Ithumba when in need, understanding that there they can be helped,” David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust wrote.
Photo credit: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Luckily for the elephants, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust had a veterinary team that could spring into action. A team were flown in to help and they immediately cleaned and treated the injured elephants’ wounds, as well as give them medicine to counteract the poison.
“Thanks to a quick intervention, all have made a full recovery. Mwende and Yetu’s dad has remained in the area with his friends and they have regularly been seen since undergoing treatment,” the rescuers wrote. “Thankfully all their wounds have healed beautifully so they have all made a full recovery,” they added.
Photo credit: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Thank goodness there are sanctuaries like Ithumba for elephants to run to for help.
To find out more about the work that David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust does, visit their website.
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