DSWT NEWSLETTER 2012 Nursery Arrivals and their Rescue Stories
13th April 2012 Male Approx age on arrival; 2 weeks - Gunshots were heard during the evening of 13th April 2012 by the local community near Wamba in the Samburu tribal area of Northern Kenya. The next morning a severely wounded female elephant with a calf at foot was spotted in the area, with bullet wounds in the chest and front legs having rendered her so severely wounded that she was unable to even move. The matter was reported to a KWS patrol within the area who summonsed the KWS Vet, Dr. Mutinda to come and assess the injured mother. It turned out that the female elephant’s wounds were too severe for any hope of recovery, so having reported the matter to the Nairobi KWS Headquarters, it was decided she be euthanized, and the calf saved and sent to the Nursery in Nairobi National Park. The calf had its last feed of mother’s milk at 9 a.m. before the cow was laid to rest. By 1.30 p.m. the Rescue Team had landed at the nearby Wamba Airstrip, and the calf, surrounded by a curious crowd of tribespeople, was loaded onto the plane and airlifted back to the Nursery, arriving in the afternoon. The baby, which was in good condition, was a 2 weeks old baby bull and was given the name “Barsilinga” after the area where his mother died, and from whence he was rescued.
Barsilinga
22nd April 2012 Male Approx age on arrival; 6 - 7 months
Balguda
- A lone male calf, aged approximately 6 - 7 months spotted by tourists wandering on its own below Aruba Dam in Tsavo East National Park, who was very vulnerable to attack from the lions who frequent the area, was rescued late during the evening of Saturday 21st April 2012. The baby spent the night at the Voi Stockades and was flown to the Nursery the next morning on Sunday 22nd April, 2012. Having taken milk, and appearing strong and in good condition, he was allowed out to join the 20 other Nursery elephants that same afternoon so that adjustments could be made to the sleeping arrangements. He was given the name “Balguda”- the name of an area of the Park not far from where he was rescued.
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