Rescuers found the baby with a gaping wound in his head and badly damaged leg as he clung to life in an ivory poacher’s snare
The baby elephant rescued from cruel poachers after suffering terrible injuries is already making a speedy recovery – and has even made new friends.
Rescuers found the baby with a gaping wound in his head and badly damaged leg as he clung to life in an ivory poacher’s snare.
An injured baby elephant was saved by heroic rescue team, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), after being caught in on a poacher’s snare and attacked with a spear(Image: Barcroft Media)
The trust’s executive director Rob Brandford said: “We believe Simotua was attacked by ivory poachers.
On the mend: Simotua pictured at the start of his recovery in June(Image: THE DSWT / Barcroft Media)
“The snare had cut through the skin and flesh on his leg, cutting down to the bone, which would have made any movement extremely painful and meant he could not walk far for food or water.
Getting better: Simotua quickly made friends at the orphanage (Image: THE DSWT / Barcroft Media)
“Without action, he would have quickly starved to death or infection would have set into his wounds, causing a prolonged and painful death.
New home: Simotua clearly enjoying his new surroundings (Image: THE DSWT / Barcroft Media)
“His wounds were cleaned and treated, packed with green clay, and antibiotics were given.”
Simotua is making a speedy recovery.
Desperate rescue: The rescue team acted quickly to save the fragile calf (Image: THE DSWT / Barcroft Media)
More than 90 orphaned elephants rescued by the DSWT are now living a full life back in the wild.
The trust is confident Simotua can join them in a few years when he is fully grown.
An elephant is killed in Africa every 15 minutes to fuel the demand for ivory in Asia. The trade is illegal.
Trust founder Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick said: “We are at crossroads for the future of wild elephants.
“We witness the terrible impact of the ivory trade every day, but man-made extinction cannot be the end of this iconic species.
“The ivory trade continues to fuel more senseless deaths.”