On April 5th, 2022, a troubling report came in from the Shimba Hills—a young elephant had fallen victim to a deadly snare, leaving its leg severely injured and dragging nearly a meter of wire behind it. With the threat of infection looming, swift action was necessary to save the calf’s life.
The SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit and Airwing quickly mobilized, with a helicopter ready to transport Dr. Poghon to the scene. Time was of the essence.
The first step was to safely sedate the calf’s mother, ensuring that treatment could proceed without incident.
The helicopter pilot skillfully guided the mother and calf to an open area where Dr. Poghon administered the sedative. The mother was soon unconscious, allowing the ground team to approach.
To keep the mother comfortable during her sedation, water was gently poured behind her ears to prevent overheating, and a twig was placed in her trunk to keep her airways open. Her position was adjusted to ensure she could easily recover and reunite with her calf.
Meanwhile, the calf was suffering from a severe snare wound on its front left ankle. The helicopter set out to locate the young elephant, which had wandered into the dense Shimba Hills.
The terrain made this search challenging, but the pilot’s keen eyesight paid off, and the calf was found.
The team worked together to remove the snare and treat the wound, preventing infection with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
Green clay was applied to promote healing. Due to the thickness of the wire, removing the snare was a difficult task, but the team succeeded.
Next came the challenge of reuniting the calf with its mother. The team had to carry the calf uphill for over 400 meters through thick vegetation, a tough task that required persistence. Finally, the baby was safely nestled beside its mother.
After the sedation wore off, the mother and calf woke comfortably beside each other. Dr. Poghon assisted in their recovery while the team retreated to a safe distance.
The pair shared a tender moment before disappearing into the forest, where they will continue to be monitored during the mother’s recovery.
Despite the severity of her injury, Dr. Poghon is hopeful for a full recovery, given elephants’ remarkable resilience. Thanks to timely intervention, the calf now has a promising future ahead.
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