Two baby elephants have been rescued after falling into a muddy waterhole during a drought in Zimbabwe.
The elephants, Tess and Mana, were discovered by wildlife photographer Jens Cullmann at Mana Pools National Park last month, and she warned about the ‘Wild is life’ animal sanctuary.
Members of the charity, locals, and take about half a day to free the two trapped animals.
The elephants were given intravenous fluids for their dehydration after being pulled from the ground and then loaded onto a plane to the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery.
Ms. Cullmann, 50, said she believed the pair got stuck after getting water and were too weak to get out of the mud.
One of the baby elephants grips a rescuer’s leg with its trunk after it became stuck in the mud at the Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, at the beginning of last month. It took rescuers around half a day to haul them out of the mud and they were treated before being loaded onto a planeMembers of the ‘Wild is life’ animal sanctuary and a veterinarian worked to haul the baby elephants out of the mud. A newborn elephant usually weighs around 20 stone, though it is not clear exactly how old the pair wereRescuers use a branch with a rope tied to it as a lever to extract the elephant from the mud. Wild is life wrote on Instagram: ‘Thanks to all who helped on the ground with these rescues. Great to see caring Zimbabweans who are trying to make a difference to the souls with whom they live. Thank you, one and all!’Men pull on a rope which was passed underneath the elephant and the mud. The animals had sustained some i.n..j.uries which the rescuers believed were caused by hyenas
One of the rescue teams holds an i.n..travenous drip for the elephant (left) and rescuers pulling on a rope to free one of the elephants (right). The region has suffered a serious drought
Some lifeguards pulled the elephants while others pushed. Both were in.ju.red, rescuers believed by hyenas and had to be treated for their in.jur.ies before they could be flown again.
The two babies are now recovering and are said to be enjoying life at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery.
Ms. Pullmann said: “This year in Mana Pools is a very different holiday than previous years – I’ve been there every year for the past nine years, and I’ve never seen a drought like this one.
“It was quite emotional and devastating to see so many animals suffer – especially elephants because they are so much like ‘humans.’
The baby elephants were given i.ntravenous drips to help them re-hydrate and then flown to Wild is life’s Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery. The nursery was established in 2012 by Roxy Danckwerts. It is currently made up of two projects, the Nursery in Harare and the Re-wilding facility in Victoria Falls.Rescue workers are covered in mud as they prepare an i.ntravenous drip for one of the elephants which lies e.xhausted on the baked mud. The Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery is generously supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) who have partnered with ZEN to ensure the long term sustainability of the projectThe elephants were loaded onto the back of a truck and transported to a waiting plane so they could be transferred to the elephant nursery. The photographer said: ‘It must have happened in the night before – I was at this time in this area every day and I would have noticed it. ‘When I found them, the elephants had already i.n..j.uries, probably from hyenas.’One of the baby elephants has a rag draped over its eyes to keep it calm while the rescue workers use shovels and ropes to extract it from the mudRescue workers pass a rope underneath the elephant’s belly as they prepare to haul it from the muddy patch in the dried out lakeRescue workers prepare to load the elephants onto a plane so that they can be transported to the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery
‘It definitely happened the night before – I was at this time in this area every day, and I would have noticed it.
‘When I found them, the elephants had already i.n.jur.ies, probably from hyenas.
‘After I’ve witnessed elephants d..y.ing and seeing lonely babies wandering around by themselves, it was really good that we were able to do something as well, to help to save them, it makes you feel a little less powerless.’
The elephants were carted to a nearby runway so they could be shipped off for more recovery at the Zimbabwe Elephant NurseryThe baby elephants Tess and Mana (third and fourth from left) at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery after they were rescued last month
Discussion about this post