During a routine patrol, our pilot flew over a trio of impressive bulls. Circling around for a closer look, he spotted a telltale bump on the left side of one of the bulls. It takes a trained eye to identify something so small amidst a moving group of elephants, let alone recognise what it means. But our pilots are fluent in this nuanced language of observation, and he immediately knew it was an arrow wound. Zoomed in photos confirmed his suspicions.

It was too late to mobilise a treatment that day, but one of the bull’s companions unwittingly helped our mission: The patient was in the company of a collared bull, whose movements we were able to track. The following morning, we found the group some 30 kilometres from their location the evening prior.

There were about 200 elephants in the immediate vicinity, but the patient was easily recognisable with his long, elegant tusks. The SWT helicopter shepherded him towards an open area, where our ground teams were waiting. With everyone in position, KWS veterinarian Dr Limo darted the bull from the air.

As the anaesthetic took effect, the bull froze on his haunches. The team moved in to help him down to the ground — and in the process, they spotted a second arrow wound on his right side. After cleaning and treating the first injury, the team flipped the bull over and tended to the other side. Both wounds were infected, but thanks to swift veterinary attention, he will make a full recovery.

With treatment complete, the patient was revived. He swung to his feet and lumbered into the bush, off to rejoin his friends. Our pilot spotted him a week later and reported that his wounds were healing beautifully.

This operation reminds us that even the greatest wonders of the natural world are terribly vulnerable to human actions. Based on the location of his multiple injuries and the absence of poison on the arrows, we can safely conclude that this bull was a victim of human-wildlife conflict. This is a pervasive issue for elephants, particularly bulls.

Beyond protected areas, their ancient rangelands are rapidly disappearing, yet elephants do not recognise the boundaries where they are no longer welcome. Resourceful and intelligent, they see a farmer’s plot as an inviting feast. For communities, elephants are distressing and financially devastating guests.

And yet, there is hope. Working alongside our field partners and the KWS, we have proven solutions to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and secure habitats before they are lost forever. For animals caught in the crosshairs, like this bull, we will always be there to extend a helping hand.