Meet the elephant calf you helped save

A tiny elephant calf, just two years old, suffering from a terrible snare injury. 

He was found with a rope snare wound tightly around his left foot. The rope had cut into his joint, deep into the muscle. The wound was infected and inflamed. He was in terrible pain, unable to put weight on his leg. Left untreated, the infection would have spread. And for a calf this young, that's more than likely a death sentence.

Thankfully, because you care, the Wildlife Ambulance team reached him in time.

The young elephant calf receiving urgent medical help - all thanks to you!

The calf was safely sedated so our vets could remove the snare. They cleaned the wound, treated him with antibiotics, and covered the area with fly repellent to stop further infection. He was also given medication to bring down the swelling and ease his pain. 

The Wildlife Ambulance treating the painful snare wound.

 Then came the moment we hoped for: he successfully rejoined his devoted mother and his herd.  

Upon waking, the calf slowly walked back towards his herd, rejoining them with ease. 

For the next two weeks, our team kept a close eye on him, both on the ground and by drone. He was limping, which was completely expected. But otherwise, he was doing everything a healthy young calf should do: following his mother, staying close to his herd and moving through the forest exactly as nature intended.

This young elephant was given a second chance, and it’s all thanks to you.  

Your kindness keeps the Wildlife Ambulance stocked, staffed and ready to respond. Reaching elephants in their most desperate moments, when every second counts. 

For a Critically Endangered species, every life saved is a triumph for Sumatran elephants, and a step back from the edge of Extinction. We couldn’t do this work without you, so thank you for standing with elephants. 

Program: Vet and Wildlife Ambulance 
Location: Aceh Jaya Regency, Sumatra, Indonesia 
Program Partner: Syiah Kuala University (UNSYIAH)