The Chronicle

CHIREDZI, Wednesday, March 27, 1968 — Today was a day that Joe, the baby elephant, will never forget.

Falling into a pool full of grapefruit and oranges was bad enough. But being hauled out by his ears was the last straw.

Joe had only himself to blame. He had wandered from one of many herds which are flocking to the Chiredzi area in search of water.

His wandering took him into the citrus estate on the Hippo Valley Estate.

And down went poor Joe — straight into a 6ft deep tank full of chlorinated water, used for washing the fruit.

Hearing his squeals and seeing his predicament, workers on the estate didn’t hesitate — they grabbed Joe’s flapping ears and heaved.

But once on terra firma again, Joe’s problems were only just starting.

Being only six months old, Joe is still in need of milk and it seems that cow’s milk is not enough.

But the local animal expert Mr Chris Green came up with the answer. A suitable quantity of olive oil and an emulsifier, and cow’s milk becomes as good as any elephant can produce.

Because of the danger of dysentery, Joe is also being given glucose and penicillin injections.

Nearly 3 000 elephants are flocking to the Lundi and Nuanetsi rivers in search of life-saving water. They are hampering work on the Ngundu Halt Road and some have been shot.

It is thought that Joe might be an orphan of one of these or has simply lost his mother.

Poachers are busy in the area taking advantage of the large number of animals, but a police spokesman said: “We are keeping a careful lookout for poachers”.

Joe has been taken to a local farm to be looked after until he is old enough to fend for himself.