Layoni's Story

This young abandoned calf was first reported to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust on Wednesday the 2nd of November. He had been spotted by clients visiting the Mara and reported to the authorities. All alone the vulnerable two year old calf had already been mauled by hyenas around his genital region. The David Sheldrick Mara mobile veterinary unit had actually just returned to Nairobi in order to fix their vehicle that had been smashed while treating a black rhino case in Nakuru National Park. During that time the team had planned to take a much needed four days off. Having received this report the unit was immediately contacted and agreed to forego their off time in order to set off using a spare David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust vehicle for the long drive back to the Masai Mara. They arrived well after dark and only managed to catch up with the calf at dawn the following day. This calf had been observed for 3 days alone on the vast grassy plains without any other elephant herds in sight. KWS vet Dr. Domnic Mijele suconded to the DSWT Mobile Mara Veterinary Unit confirmed that this calf did indeed require rescuing if he was to survive, as he was estimated to be two years old and still milk dependent. His wounds while not life threatening were causing him a great deal of discomfort.