(c) Born Free Foundation
Born Free To The Rescue!
7 years ago 
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Compassionate conservation in action as Born Free joins Kenya Wildlife Service and David Sheldrick Trust to treat seriously injured elephant in Meru
Will Travers OBE, President of the international wildlife charity, Born Free Foundation, recently took part in an emergency mission to treat a seriously injured elephant in Meru National Park, Kenya.
The dramatic incident, documented in a video diary by Will Travers, was triggered by Born Free, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust after an elephant with an injury the size of a grapefruit and weeping pus on the left-hand side of his stomach was spotted in Meru.
The team immediately sprang into action, searching for the injured elephant over 800 square kilometres for many hours until it was found.
Describing the moment the elephant was treated, Travers said: “It turned out that the grapefruit-sized lump on his side was only the tip of a putrid iceberg. Inside the body cavity, the wound was seemingly five or six times as large and with literally litres of putrid material and pus. Dr Rono [a KWS veterinarian] expertly flushed the system out making a small incision about six inches below the main wound so that it could drain properly. Then the heavily-sedated elephant was given antibiotics and other medication before he administered the reversal injection.”
Travers added: “We all retreated to the relative safety of our vehicles to see what would happen next. Within 60 seconds the elephant was up, seemingly bemused and really cross! He charged away up the hill before turning to the nearest innocent bush and giving it a thorough beating. Then, with a further series of outraged trumpets, he disappeared into the distance, just as light was fading.”
The elephant has since been spotted by KWS in Meru and its injury is healing well.
Travers added: “I have asked the Born Free team on the ground to report back to confirm that the elephant is well and is making a good recovery. Dr Rono suggested that he would take a further look and gave the elephant a 70% chance of survival. I hope he is right.”
Link to Will Travers’ video diary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y4L3Q1R-Bo&t=22s
Link to Will Travers’ blog: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/blog/2017/elephant-down/
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