Suyian Conservancy rangers reported an adult female elephant who was having great difficulty walking. As she limped along, her two babies trailed in her wake. The calves were young and very much mother-dependent — the youngest, about two years old, was still nursing. Any risk to their mother’s life also put their own lives in jeopardy.

To complicate matters, the family was in a very inaccessible area that could not be reached by road. We mobilised Sky Vets, our aerial veterinary initiative, to answer the call. The Loisaba helicopter flew the team to the scene, led by KWS veterinarian Dr Mijele. Meanwhile, Loisaba Conservancy and Suyian Conservancy rangers monitored the trio.

First, the team shepherded the calves a safe distance away — the eldest would look after its younger sibling during treatment. Dr Mijele then darted the patient from the air, and she went down without incident.

The snare was fully embedded in her left forelimb, leaving a deep and heavily infected wound. Moving quickly, the team unearthed the wire and cut it free. They then debrided, cleaned, and treated the area before administering antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to expedite healing. Dr Mijele expects her to make a complete recovery.

Within three minutes of administering the reversal, the patient was back on her feet, no doubt feeling much relief already. She immediately reunited with her babies, who were overjoyed and relieved to be back with their mother. The trio disappeared into the wilderness — a life saved, a family kept together.