Elephant calf reunited with mother after getting stuck in KNP pool
Determined rangers end the year on a high – dripping wet but jubilant after freeing a small elephant calf from a deep pool.
An amazing team effort by various role players in the Kruger National Park saw an elephant calf being reunited with her mother.
The rescue took place in the Letaba area yesterday.
KNP communications manager Ike Phaahla told Caxton Local Media that a section ranger alerted the veterinary and wildlife services department to the calf’s predicament.
“The calf got stuck in a pool and this obviously caused distress for the herd. There was a lot of tension and the team had to chase away the herd so that they could mobilise the calf to work with the team,” Phaahla says.
He explains that the calf had to be tranquilised and that the rescue operation lasted around three hours.
“This just shows that our team never sleeps on the job and is always ready to assist. No animal is less important than another,” Phaahla adds.
Ranger Karien Loubser shared her experience on the SANParks – Kruger National Park Facebook group. She said the calf’s mother had managed to lower the water level, but a lurking leopard increased the danger the calf was in. She explained that a helicopter arrived to assist in darting the mother to allow the rescuers to do their job.
“Luckily, the elephant cow ran away as soon as the helicopter arrived and there was no need to dart her. All ended well – mom and baby got reunited.”
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