A brave team of rescuers saved a wounded baby elephant who was tangled in a poacher’s trap and injured by a spear. The one-year-old calf, known as Simotua, was found abandoned to his fate in the vast 15,000-acre Rumuruti Forest in Kenya. The poachers had apparently left him to perish once they realized he did not possess the valuable ivory tusks they were seeking. The heartwarming video of the rescue can be viewed below.
Simotua, the adorable baby elephant, began his road to recovery back in June 2015 at Nairobi National Park. The poor one-year-old elephant had fallen victim to a poacher’s trap and had been viciously attacked with a spear. His injuries included a large wound on his skull from the spear and a deadly snare tightly wrapped around his leg, posing a serious threat to his life.
Thankfully, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) came to his rescue and swiftly transported him to safety. Expert veterinarians assessed his wounds at the local airstrip before loading him onto a plane for a one-hour flight to the DSWT orphanage in Nairobi National Park. Here, Simotua received around-the-clock medical care to help him heal.
According to Rob Brandford, the Executive Director of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (UK), it is believed that Simotua was targeted by ivory poachers. The snare had sliced through his leg, causing excruciating pain and hindering his ability to walk long distances in search of food and water. It’s heartwarming to see Simotua on the path to recovery after such a traumatic ordeal.
Assistance is on its way: Simotua, a wild animal, was found in the Rumuruti Forest in Kenya by a team of rescuers. The creature was suffering from severe injuries that could have been fatal.
The team of rescuers successfully freed the elephant from the deadly poacher’s trap that was tightly wrapped around its leg.
Rescued: A team of rescuers carefully loaded the injured and abandoned elephant onto a vehicle.
It is suspected that heartless poachers abandoned Simotua to die because he did not have tusks, resulting in severe injuries. Without intervention, he would have faced a slow and agonizing death due to starvation or infection from his wounds. Our team provided care and reassurance throughout his treatment, cleaning and treating his wounds, applying green clay, and administering antibiotics.
Rob reported that Simotua is progressing well and has forged new bonds at the sanctuary. Just two weeks after being rescued, he was able to explore the forest outside his enclosure for the first time, carefully testing his injured leg. Surrounded by the other young elephant orphans, Simotua is thriving and finding comfort in their gentle trunk touches, reminding him that he is now in a safe and loving environment.
Simotua appears to be genuinely happy as he embraces the beauty of his new environment at Nairobi National Park.
During playtime, the little baby elephant quickly bonded with new friends at the sanctuary and is now a part of the herd. Over 90 orphaned elephants that have been rescued are now thriving in their natural habitat, and it is hoped that Simotua will join them once he reaches full maturity.
The unfortunate attack on Simotua was a result of the illegal ivory trade, which is primarily driven by demand in Asia, leading to the tragic loss of an elephant every 15 minutes in Africa. Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, the founder of the charity, aims to raise awareness of this pressing issue on World Elephant Day, shedding light on the ongoing threat to these magnificent creatures.
Dr. Sheldrick emphasized the critical juncture we are at in preserving the future of wild elephants, expressing concern over the devastating impact of the ivory trade. She emphasized that the extinction of this iconic species at the hands of humans cannot be accepted, urging for urgent action to protect elephants from further harm. As the ivory trade continues to claim the lives of these majestic animals, she stressed that the consequences will reverberate throughout the world.