A bull elephant in Tsavo National Park narrowly escaped death after trapping its trunk with its tusks, forcing it to stay without food and water for days.
In a social media post, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), the team that rescued the elephant, described the incident as one of their most unusual rescue cases.
“Today, a very strange case presented itself in Tsavo: a big bull whose tusk had impaled his own trunk. (The photo mid-clip shows his injury),” SWT said.
According to the conservationists, the elephant is believed to have been probing his left nostril with his right tusk when he lost his balance, causing the sharp ivory to pierce and trap the trunk in place.
“He must have been probing his left nostril with his right tusk when he lost his balance. The tusk punctured the trunk and was then trapped in position. This made it extremely difficult for him to eat, drink, and even breathe properly,” the post explained.
The elephant had reportedly been stuck in this painful position for at least three days, leaving him unable to feed or drink and pushing him to the brink of dehydration and starvation.
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Fortunately, an emergency response was mounted by the SWT in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“He had been stuck this way for at least three days. Fortunately, help arrived. The SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit darted the patient, dislodged the trapped trunk from the right tusk, and then moved the bull into position to clean and treat the injury,” SWT said.
Veterinarians successfully sedated the elephant, freed the trapped trunk, and treated the wound.
Conservationists expressed optimism about his recovery.
“With time, the wound will scar over, and Dr Limo is confident he will make a full recovery,” the statement added.
SWT described the rescue as both perplexing and sobering, noting that the incident could easily have turned fatal without timely intervention.
“This was one of our more confounding cases, but it could have had fatal implications. The team was thrilled to see the elephant back on his feet, tusks and trunk unimpeded.”
According to a post by the Aberdare National Park, which also mirrors one by SWT, an elephant’s trunk, a fusion of the nose and upper lip, is its most vital limb, essential for breathing, feeding, drinking and social interaction, making injuries to it especially life-threatening.
The dramatic rescue has drawn praise online, bringing to the fore the critical role played by Kenya’s wildlife veterinarians and conservation teams in safeguarding the country’s iconic animals.