Elephant ‘marked for death’ is saved

A five-tonne elephant has been saved from death following the intervention of a charity.

The Aspinall Foundation - which runs Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, near Hythe and Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury - stepped in to save the bull after it was found wandering across roads and farmland on a reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The elephant, aged around 20 years, had been pushed out of his herd and was trying to locate food and water on its own when neighbouring farm owners reported it.

After being alerted to the elephant’s plight, Dereck Milburn, The Aspinall Foundation’s Southern Africa project director, put together a team of experts to provide government officials with an alternative solution to shooting it.

The team included Dr. William Fowlds, a respected wildlife veterinarian, Brett Mitchell, an elephant expert of the Elephant Reintegration Trust, Peter

Chadwick, a specialist in protected areas and conservation and Iain Buchanan, of Mount Camdeboo Private Reserve.

Within 30 hours, the decision to shoot the animal was overturned and The Eastern Cape’s Department of Economic Development & Environmental Affairs issued a relocation permit. Funds were also put in place to support the translocation of the bull.

The elephant was then aerially darted via helicopter. Once safely sedated, he was moved into his travel crate and onto the transport truck to embark on the 120 kilometre journey to Mount Camdeboo Private Reserve.

Damian Aspinall, chairman of The Aspinall Foundation said: “This is an incredible example of conservation in action and a move The Aspinall Foundation is proud to support.”

Once settled in his new home, the bull will join a small breeding herd of elephants released on to the Mount Camdeboo Private Reserve earlier this year.

The rescued elephant’s first steps at Mount Camdeboo Private Reserve

The elephant leaves his transport crate to explore his new home

Preparing the travel crate for the elephant’s transport