During Zimbabwe’s severe drought, two baby elephants were rescued after falling into a muddy waterhole.
The elephants, Tess and Mana, were discovered last month at Mana Pools National Park by wildlife photographer Jens Cullmann, who notified the ‘Wild is Life’ animal sanctuary.
Members of the charity, locals, and a veterinarian used ropes and shovels to free the two stranded animals, which took about half a day.
After being hauled out of the ground and loaded onto a plane to be flown to the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery, the elephants were given intravenous drips for dehydration.
Ms Cullmann, 50, believes the pair got stuck while looking for 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 were Rescuers 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 injuries which the rescuers believed were cause by hyenasOne of the rescue team holds an intravenous drip for the elephant (left) and rescuers pulling on a rope to free one of the elephants (right). The region has suffered a serious droughtThe rescuers give water to one of the severely dehydrated elephants after it was saved from the mud. Jens Cullmann, 50, a wildlife photographer from Germany said: ‘It was quite emotional and devastating to see so many animals suffer – elephants especially since they are in a way very “human”‘
Some rescuers dragged the elephants while others pushed them. According to the rescuers, both had been injured by hyenas and had to be treated for their wounds before being flown onward.
The two babies are now recovering and seem to be having a good time at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery.
‘It’s been a very different stay in Mana Pools this year compared to previous years – I’ve been there every year for the past nine years now and I’ve never seen a drought like this one,’ Ms Pullmann said.
‘It was quite emotional and devastating to see so many animals suffer, especially elephants, who are very “human” in some ways.
The baby elephants were given intravenous 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 intravenous drip for one of the elephants which lies exhausted 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 injuries, 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 mud Rescue workers pass a rope underneath the elephant’s belly as they prepare to haul it from the muddy patch in the dried out lake Rescue workers prepare to load the elephants onto a plane so that it can be transported to the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery The elephants were carted to a nearby runway so they could be shipped off for more recovery at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery The baby elephants Tess and Mana (third and fourth from left) at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery after they were rescued last month
‘It must have happened the night before because I was in this area every day and would have noticed it.
‘When I found them, the elephants had already been injured, most likely by hyenas.
‘After seeing elephants die and lonely babies wandering around by themselves, it was really good that we were able to do something to help save them; it makes you feel a little less powerless.’
