Elephant Shot By Hunters Goes To Human Homes To Ask For Help

The news is simple, but surprising and was told, as always, from a human perspective. A shot elephant, who had managed to flee from its hunters, came to a house to ask its residents for help. Whether this fact was a coincidence or whether the animal approached people with the certainty that it would be helped is still a matter of debate. What is certain is that the elephant is recovering from its wounds and the story, so far, has a happy ending.

Ben the elephant shot by poachers

The event took place at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, a luxury tourist complex in western Mashonaland, a province in the African republic of Zimbabwe. The area is characterized by a prolific wildlife and beautiful landscapes dominated by Lake Kariba.

Ben, as the protagonist of this story was named, was another victim of poachers who luckily failed to catch him. However, the elephant had two bullet holes in its left ear and a wound in its shoulder, where the projectiles lodged. Also, he limped a lot.

The staff at the complex provided water to the animal, which had obvious symptoms of dehydration, and asked veterinarians for help in approaching the site. But in the meantime, the shot elephant remained near the house where some of the Bumi Hills employees were staying.

Source: Bumi Hills Foundation

Find out how the shot elephant was helped

Veterinarians sedated the animal to heal its wounds and installed a tracking device. Thus, they were able to assess its evolution soon after the animal, feeling better, moved away from the complex’s facilities.

After a while, Ben was sedated again so that other dressings could be made and the condition of the wounds could be assessed. Furthermore, upon verifying that everything was fine, they removed the tracking device.

The news of the shot elephant that asked for help from humans had a great repercussion in the media and social networks where, in addition, a campaign to raise funds  and cover the costs of its treatment began.

Elephants, victims of illegal hunting

The cruel statistics show that 100 African elephants are murdered daily by poachers who seek mainly the ivory of their so-called tusks, but also their flesh and other parts of their bodies. Although these beings have populated the continent for 60 million years, they could be extinct in 2025, if the killings are not stopped.

Faced with the restrictions imposed worldwide on the use of ivory, illegal hunting does not stop because the demand for this material is increasing in the growing Asian middle class.

According to estimates, the ivory that is exported is only a small part of what actually leaves the country as contraband, although the number of seizures has increased in recent times.

figurines versus elephants

Author: Bumi Hills Foundation

Ivory, that hard, compact and white matter that forms the teeth of mammals, is unfortunately something much appreciated by cultures like China.

It is used to elaborate, among other things:

• ornamental figures
• bracelets
• jewelry boxes
• tableware
• figurines
• piano keys
• dominoes and chess pieces

• Brush handles

That’s how it goes, while many humans strive to save elephants like Ben, others don’t seem to mind too much that they’re grossly murdered so they can flaunt luxury items.

Source: Facebook Bumi Hills Foundation