Two baby elephants have been ʀᴇsᴄᴜᴇᴅ after falling into a muddy waterhole during a severe drought in Zimbabwe. The elephants, Tess and Mana, were discovered by wildlife photographer Jens Cullmann at Mana Pools National Park last month and she alerted the “Wild is life” animal sanctuary.
Members 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
Some rescuers attempted to remove them using a rope, while others pushed them away with poles. According to the rescue workers, both of them might be ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ by hyenas and needed treatment for their ɪɴᴊᴜʀɪᴇs before being flown on.
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.
Ms Cullmann, 50, said she believed the pair had become stuck after trying to get water and were too weak to escape from the mud. After being dug out of the ground, the elephants were given intravenous drips for their dehydration before being carried onboard a plane and flown to the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery.
Wild is life wrote on Instagram: “Thanks to all who helped on the ground with these ʀᴇsᴄᴜᴇs. Great to see caring Zimbabweans who are trying to make a difference to the souls with whom they live. Thank you, one and all!”
The two babies are now recovering and are said to be enjoying life at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery.
Ms Pullmann said: “It’s been a very different stay in Mana Pools this year compared to the last years – I’ve been there every year for the past nine years now and I’ve never seen a drought like this one. It was quite emotional and devastating to see so many animals suffer – elephants especially since they are in a way very “human”.”