A baby elephant who almost died when he stepped on a poacher’s snare, severing his foot to the bone, has been saved by vets.
Vets used natural green clay to pack the one-year-old calf’s foot to assist healing and prevent further infection after he was by found by a mobile veterinary unit in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya in February.
Severely injured: The baby elephant pictured being treated by a team of medics in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya
Mwashoti was found with severely injured after he stepped on a poacher’s snare, severing his foot to the bone
He said: ‘Mwashoti’s condition was extremely serious. Suffering from a man-made injury, he was found with a snare tightly wound around his foot.
‘This had nearly severed his foot and though he was protected by his mother and herd, he was in severe pain and unable to walk far – which the pair needed to do to find food and water.
‘Without our help, it’s likely he would have fallen behind and at some point, his mother would have had to make the tough choice to abandon her baby to ensure her own survival.’
Journey: The elephant is transported to an orphanage in Nairobi National Park, Kenya for treatment in March
In safe hands: Little Mwashoti’s horrific snare wound is treated in March at Nairobi National Park, Kenya
Mr Brandford is hopeful Mwashoti will be able to return to the wild one day.
He said: ‘We strongly believe he has a wild life ahead of him.
‘Mwashoti’s wound continues to heal – miraculously he is currently walking out and about with the other orphans in the Nairobi Forest and we think his horrendous wound should fully heal.’
A keeper plays with the young elephant. It is hoped Mwashoti may one day be released back into the wild
On the move: The young elephant is pictured walking despite his injury suffered when he stepped on a snare
The baby elephant has settled in well at the nursery at Nairobi National Park, Kenya following his horrific ordeal