A seriously injured and ill elephant was brought to the attention of the DSWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit on the 19th of October, seen on the plains between Ndara and Dakota Tsavo East National Park. Remaining by her side was her small calf. The cow had multiple horrific arrow injuries, and due to septicaemia the prognosis regarding her recovery has very guarded. She was immobilised for treatment and meanwhile the calf remained nearby. When revived she was too weak to be able to stand, despite being helped with straps around her tusks, and she slipped away before everyone’s eyes. 

All attention now focussed on rescuing her still milk dependent calf and the Voi Keepers and Anti-Poaching Team, together with DSWT Field Manager Trevor Jennings were called to assist. Once the teams arrived they were able to capture the female calf without anesthetisation and she was loaded into the waiting Landcruiser and driven slowly back through the Park to the Voi stockades where she was placed in a taming stockade. 

The presence of the other orphans had a calming effect on the newcomer and she instantly took milk from a bucket. It was a couple of days before she was sufficiently tame to take milk from a hand held bottle but once this had been accomplished she settled rapidly. We gave her the name ‘Araba’ meaning Elephant in the Waliangulu tribal language and estimated her age on arrival to be just under two years old, still very much a milk dependent candidate.   

If you would like to foster Araba and contribute to her care please do so here