It was a gut-wrenching scene: a frantic mother elephant standing guard over her helpless calf, who had been caught in a deadly snare. Desperate and distressed, the pair were vulnerable to predators and poachers alike – and with the baby unable to move, it was only a matter of time before tragedy struck.
As soon as our partner, Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust (KAWFT), was alerted to the danger for the snared baby elephant, it raced to the rescue. But the combination of dense bush, a terrified, territorial mother, and outdated equipment made their work extremely difficult.
Without the right tools, rescuing injured wild animals – especially large creatures like elephants – can be incredibly dangerous for both the animals and the rescue team.
Our expert team acted just in time – sedating the calf, removing the snare, treating its wound, and reversing the sedation before it was too late. Credit: KAWFT
Mother elephants are extremely protective of their young, posing a lethal threat to rescuers trying to help – yet if the rescue teams can’t safely access the injured calf, the infant is almost sure to die.
Over two days, the team attempted to sedate the animals – but these attempts failed, as they lacked the enhanced equipment needed to safely tranquilize them both through the dense bush from a safe distance.
For the baby elephant and her mother, time was rapidly running out.
Luckily, on the third day, a local partner was able to help them with the equipment they needed.
Once the pair was safely sedated, the team worked fast to remove the snare, treat the calf’s wound and administer powerful medication, and both animals quickly recovered.
Mother elephants are fiercely protective of their young, which can pose a serious danger to rescuers trying to save a snared calf. For illustrative purposes only.
Next time, the animals might not be so lucky.
The only way to ensure our partner can rescue baby elephants and other poaching victims is to equip them with the specialized, life-saving tools they need.
This close call highlights just how important it is for our teams to be properly equipped; in just a few more days, the calf would likely have died from infections, predators or poachers.
Our partner needs a vital piece of equipment to ensure they’re ready to sedate and treat snared elephants and other animals at a moment’s notice, saving countless lives.
Snares are a serious problem in Zimbabwe, posing a deadly threat to wildlife. These cruel wire traps leave animals with horrific wounds, and often cause a slow, painful death if they aren’t removed in time. Credit: KAWFT
If we can raise $2,390 (£1,800), we can equip our partner with enhanced tranquilizing equipment, as well as more essential medicines and supplies to carry out life-saving de-snaring operations. The better our teams are equipped, the more animals we can help save. But we can only do it with your support today.
Will you help us fund this vitally important tool for animals in distress?
Please, donate as much as you possibly can now, and help us reach our goal.
