They soon realised that more nefarious cargo was afoot: Cinched around the bull’s front leg and dragging behind was a thick, wire snare. As soon as Save the Elephants raised the alarm, our Kaluku Field Headquarters mobilised a team to the scene.

First, we had to locate the bull. The SWT helicopter collected the SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit and flew south to the Satao area of Tsavo East National Park, where he had last been seen. Not much time had elapsed since the initial sighting, but Tsavo is a big park and elephants can cover large distances!

After over an hour of searching, Dr Limo finally spotted the bull near a dam. The helicopter landed, our ground teams rushed to the scene, and Dr Limo darted the patient on foot.

As reported, he had a thick cable snare around his front left foot. It had cut deep into the skin, hindering his mobility and causing immense pain. The team cut away the snare, cleaned the resultant wound, and administered long-acting medication to ease his pain and expedite healing.

Although there was some ligament damage, Dr Limo is optimistic that he will make a full recovery. Of course, teams will continue to monitor his progress should he need follow-up treatment. (Hence the symbols sprayed on his back, to make him easily identifiable by aerial and ground teams.)

Snares are one of Africa’s most deadly methods of poaching. Indiscriminate and cruel, these simple, noose-like loops cause terrible suffering and, left untended, death. While our 29 SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams patrol for snares and the people who put them there, our six SWT/KWS Mobile Veterinary Units treat the animals caught in the crosshairs. Our Aerial Unit elevates the impact of all our field conservation work, giving us a bird's eye view of Kenya's wild spaces and rapidly mobilising teams to emergency situations.

Your support makes these lifesaving treatments possible. Thank you for helping us combat the scourge of poaching and provide emergency treatment to its victims.