There are two new elephants!! This is the second one this week! He is so cute, the photos are adorable, the other one is so sad as the elephant is half starved and very thin…..
On the 28th September, whilst on the way to inspect the Aruba borehole with the Mobile Veterinary Unit, an alert came of an orphaned elephant from the Rangers at the Buchuma Entrance Gate to Tsavo East on the Mombasa road. We immediately drove there and discovered that the calf had fallen into a Pipeline Manhole comprised of two compartments, each about 4 ft x 31/2 ft and 4 ½ ft. deep, covered by a single concrete slab. The tanks could be accessed through an opening of about 2 sq. ft., one holding water, and the other just oozing water. Fortunately, the calf was trapped in the drier compartment, otherwise it would have drowned having been trapped head downwards. The calf was small – only about 4 – 6 months old, so Nairobi was alerted, and a rescue team consisting of Keepers and De-Snarers was mobilized from Voi.
The task of extracting the calf was tricky, since it was difficult to secure the rope around the girth, the calf having to be pulled into an upright position in order to fit through the opening. Finally, this was accomplished, and the head and forelegs came first. Once freed, it was seen that the baby was a bull, and having been secured with ropes, he was given milk, which he eagerly accepted, followed by an anti-biotic injection.
The baby was loaded onto a Pickup and taken to Buchuma Airfield to await the arrival of the Rescue Plane. A small plane brought the Nairobi Keepers, Rescue Tarpaulin etc., whilst the Grand Caravan flew direct from Lewa Downs to collect the calf. He was back at the Nairobi Nursery at about 6.30 p.m. Apart from massive bruising, and some swelling on his back, he was in good condition, though severely traumatised. He was housed in the stable next door to Madiba, and spent the night frantically trying to climb out, in between pushing the Keepers around, unable to settle or sleep. (Nor did Madiba, who was not only so distressed by the discomfort of his new neighbour that he couldn’t sleep a wink, but also suffered a bout of diarrheoa!)
We named the new baby “Bachuma” to reflect his origin, and although very bruised and sore, he is taking milk eagerly and in pretty good physical shape. Within just one night, by the next morning he was no longer aggressive towards the Keepers and sufficiently settled to be allowed out with the others. There was great excitement when the others were let out of their Night Quarters. Immediately they practiced their newly acquired trumpets by first chasing their baby warthog friends around, and then hurried to greet the newcomer, who looked decidedly bewildered to find himself suddenly in amongst others of his kind and size! Since he seemed so happy to be amongst them, and quiet enough to be trusted around humans, and having been a totally wild elephant just 12 hours earlier, amazingly he was out and about with the other Nursery babies the very next morning.
TO VIEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF BUCHUMA’S DRAMATIC RESCUE PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK:
http://sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/html/elephant_orphan_profile_BUCHUMA.html
TO FOSTER BUCHUMA PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK:
http://sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp?G=2&N=67
Taita Ranch is situated 60 Kms. from Voi opposite the Buchuma Entrance to Tsavo East National Park on the Nairobi – Mombasa road. This, and neighbouring ranches, form a vital corridor between Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks – a traditional migration route for the Tsavo population of elephants. Once a cattle ranch, eco-tourism activities now dominate, so the Ranch harbors a variety of the area’s indigenous faunal species.
On the morning of 20th September, our Mobile Veterinary Unit was summonsed to treat an injured elephant, and upon arrival was informed of a lone calf, very emaciated and weak which had been seen wandering alone now for several days. Having dealt with the injured adult, he went to try and locate the calf and found it resting under shade. It was judged to be about two and a half years old, and was obviously an orphan losing the struggle for survival minus its mother during the dry season, and in need of help.
Having communicated with Voi, the orphan’s lorry and everything needed for an elephant rescue was soon on the way, linking up en route with our Voi De-Snaring Team which was working in the area. Everyone arrived at the Ranch airfield at 4 p.m. and with numbers supplemented by Scouts from Rukinga and Taita Ranch, they worked out the rescue strategy. Leaving the vehicles and some personnel at the airfield, others walked about l00 meters to where the calf was resting, and forming a semi-circle behind it, gradually prompted it to move towards the airfield where the rest of the team and the vehicle was waiting. Once there, the calf was easily subdued, being too weak to offer much resistance. It was a female, and once secured with ropes, the Vet was able to administer the usual prophylactic broad spectrum antibiotic injection whilst the calf was given dehydrates and milk, which she took eagerly. Before being loaded onto the waiting lorry, she was doused with water to cool her, since it was extremely hot.
Upon arrival at the Voi Stockades, she was given more milk, and introduced to Aitong, who was overjoyed to welcome her and immediately won her confidence, in full charge as all the other orphans crowded around, desperate to feel her with outstretched trunks. During the night, the Keepers remained with her to dissuade the exuberant young bulls from trying to mount her in her weak condition.
The following morning, Mweiga was chosen to keep the new baby company back at the Stockades, whilst the other orphans left as usual for the bush. The new baby is named “Sagalla”, the name of one of two massifs that tower over the area, the other being “Ndara”, a name already given. Although very weak, the new baby is feeding well, and has settled happily as the 28th member of Emily’s group, a great favourite with all the young females who are would-be Matriarchs.
TO FOSTER SAGALLA PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK:
http://sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp?G=2&N=66
TO VIEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF SAGALLA’S RESCUE PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK:
http://sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/html/elephant_orphan_profile_SAGALLA.html
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org