Every rescue is tough, but the events of April 18, 2020, were unlike any rescue our team had ever faced.Late that night, we received a report of a severely injured and abandoned calf, only about one and a half months old, that had fallen into a well in Loisaba Conservancy.
We found the calf in a critical condition, crying out for its mother and in a great deal of pain. A hyena had taken about a third of the calf’s trunk the previous night.
Vets from both Kenya Wildlife Service and Reteti were immediately dispatched to the scene to help control the bleeding and prevent further harm.
A trunk is an elephant’s most versatile tool, and our little baby was left fighting for its life.
As the calf struggled to breathe, a discussion arose about the possibility of euthanasia. However, we were not willing to give up on this brave little elephant who had already survived a hyena attack.
We were hopeful and convinced that Long’uro deserved a chance at life. The Reteti team would not give up on him.
The plane flew directly to Reteti, and Long’uro was placed in a stable that had been specially prepared for him. The team and elephants eagerly awaited his arrival.
He was named Long’uro, which means “something that has been cut” in Samburu.
