That morning, an unfamiliar bull in musth appeared outside the stockade compound at Umani Springs. He was pursuing Zongoloni, who was in season. Musth is a healthy, periodic condition in male elephants. Their reproductive hormones go into overdrive and they become fixated on asserting their dominance. This bull was a very distinctive elephant, with a severely ragged and ripped ear.

After making a brief appearance at the stockades in the morning, the bull followed Zongoloni back into the forest. The Keepers waited until the coast was clear, holding the orphans back, before escorting the herd out for the day.

Later, the team were right next to the Umani Lodge when the bull suddenly exploded out of the forest. Again he was pursuing Zongoloni, who ran towards the orphan herd for protection. He then locked onto the Keepers, who took off and found refuge in the nearby cottage — all but Patrick, who ran in a different direction. He took a longer route and the bull caught up with him. Patrick was killed almost instantly. His attack was entirely unprovoked, unexpected, and shattering for all who witnessed it.

Everyone acted with great bravery in the face of a shocking tragedy, as they tried so hard to divert the bull's attention and ward him off. We would especially like to commend the Umani Keepers and lodge staff, who showed enormous strength of character and leadership after witnessing such a horrific turn of events.

KWS authorised the translocation of the bull, but he had evaporated into the forest. Worryingly, the entire Umani orphan herd — including dependent orphans, ex-orphans, and baby Mwana — had also disappeared. They were not seen for the rest of the day, nor did they return to the stockades that night.

Two pilots flew on rotation that day, searching for the bull and the orphans, but they had vanished. The following morning, we had a breakthrough: The Umani orphan herd was spotted in the west of the forest, with the bull lurking on their periphery. The bull was darted from the aircraft and the translocation took place immediately. He was loaded onto a crane truck and moved to Tsavo East National Park, far from any communities, camps, or human settlements. He has been fitted with a radio collar, so his movements can be tracked and monitored.

And now, we are left to navigate one of the saddest chapters in our 46-year history. Patrick was a singular person. He had a special way with elephants, as his 13-year career as a Keeper can attest to. Orphans of all ages gravitated to his kind, calm presence. Baby Mwana, Murera’s newborn daughter, was very fond of Patrick. She loved to suckle his fingers and paddle after him, trunk eagerly extended towards his green jacket. We always say that elephants are the greatest judge of human character, and everyone unanimously cherished Patrick.

Patrick will be remembered as a talented Keeper and a good friend to all who knew him. He had a bright smile that instantly lifted one’s spirits — and it was a smile we saw often. His happy, optimistic spirit is one that we could all stand to emulate. Across the board, his teammates remarked upon how honest, hard-working, and respectful Patrick was. Head Keeper Edwin shared a telling anecdote from his tenure at the Nursery: “Everyone wanted to work with Patrick. For example, when I would set the roster and organise for Patrick to cut greens or do another task, all the others would argue to join him. Everyone wanted to be part of his team.”

Patrick lived a meaningful life. He chose to follow a special calling, one that few are cut out for. In the process, he touched countless lives, human and elephant. Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to Patrick’s family, including his wife, Salome, and his daughters, Pauline and Braina.

In the Kibwezi Forest, Patrick’s elephant family is also mourning his loss. As we mentioned earlier, the orphans didn’t come back to the stockades the night of the accident. Even Murera, who always returns with Mwana, and the youngest milk-dependent orphans were absent. However, mere hours after the bull was translocated, they returned to the stockades as a group. We firmly believe that they were trying to draw the culprit far away from their cherished human family, doing everything in their power to avert further tragedy. It was a powerful demonstration of the unwavering love and loyalty they feel for their Keepers. Patrick was taken before his time, but he will never, ever be forgotten.