An orphaned elephant calf was between life and death at Tsavo Conservation Area after spending hours scampering around in the blistering sun.
However, a fortuitous encounter with a group of conservationists from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, saved the calf.
In a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the rescue team took swift action and airlifted the elephant to Nairobi. The orphaned elephant was intubated and taken to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Nairobi Nursery.
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Rob Brandford, executive director of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, noted that the orphaned elephant, now named Kamili, was saved in the nick of time, owing to the heroic efforts of the rescue team.
"She is in much better shape than she was at her rescue, still very thin but getting plumper by the day. Equally important, she is regaining her spirit.
"One distinguishing characteristic which helps her caregivers tell her apart from the other orphans is her expressive eyes and stubby little trunk," Brandford stated.
He detailed that the circumstances that left Kamili orphaned still remained a mystery, as it is perceived that her herd abandoned her after she lacked the strength to go on.
"In times of drought, herds must be continually on the move in their search for food and water.
"As the impact of malnourishment begins to be felt, mother elephants may struggle to nurse their calves which become weaker and weaker eventually becoming unable to keep up with the family group," he reiterated.
He noted that in such circumstances, a split second can make a difference between life and death.
According to Brandford, Kamili will continue to stay in the Nursery before she is ready to be released back into the wild.
This comes after an elephant in Samburu recently gave birth to twins- a rare birth that has not happened in more than a decade.
This was also lauded by Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala, who pointed out that such births made up only one per cent of all elephant deliveries.
