Weekends don’t really exist in the field. Emergencies can happen at any time, on any day. On Sunday, 2nd July, the general manager of Mara Naboisho Conservancy reported a mother elephant who was in a bad way: She had been speared in the abdomen, leaving her with a grievous wound. Further raising the stakes, she had young calves who were relying on her to survive.
The first patient, a spear victim
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit was off-duty, but we had a plan: Sky Vets, our aerial veterinary initiative, exists to reach patients in remote areas and to provide coverage when other teams are on leave. We mobilised our SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit, which had bandwidth to move outside their usual patch. We organised a flight to take the team south, to the heart of the Mara ecosystem.
Treating the spear wound on the female's left side
The team were met with a sobering sight: The female, who had a young calf and a milk-dependent calf by her side, had been punctured by a spear on her left flank. Omental tissue and muscle tissue were hanging from the wound. Left untended, it was susceptible to infection, which can have lethal complications.
She was soon reunited with her family
Fortunately, help arrived in time. Dr Aminga darted the patient, then trimmed the contaminated tissue and applied a ligature to control bleeding. The team sutured the peritoneum and sealed the wound in green clay. With treatment complete, the mum was revived and reunited with her calves. She has been given a good prognosis for recovery.
The second patient, an arrow victim
But the Sky Vets mission wasn’t done yet! During the initial treatment, a report came in from nearby Olare Motorogi Conservancy of a young bull with an arrow lodged in his jaw. Facial injuries can have fatal consequences, as an infected wound can inhibit an elephant’s ability to feed. Thanks to speedy intervention, however, this bull was spared such a fate. The team darted the patient, removed the arrow, treated the wound, and sent him on his way with another good prognosis.
He had an arrow lodged in his jaw
This mission illustrates how Sky Vets can mean the difference between life and death. Thanks to aerial capabilities and multiple teams across Kenya, we were able to answer the call, helping two elephants — not to mention the little lives relying on them. Donors make these missions possible, allowing us to respond to emergencies and save wild animals every single day.
Back on his feet after a successful treatment