Animal poaching is never pretty. Wildlife of all sizes can fall prey to being brutally killed for its meat or other valued body parts. Rhino get poached for their horn. Elephants for their tusks. Pangolin for their scales. Lions for their paws. And the list goes on.
The poacher frequently uses primitive means to bring down his prey. Some have told us they use spears while others prefer laying snares. Both are cruel. Both generally deadly.
Snares are made out of wire. The wire is carefully bent into a series of loops that constrict when the animal steps into it, or walks through it. Snares are strung in trees to catch giraffe. Snares are hung between grasses to catch small antelope. The poacher looks for worn paths where herds typically pass by regularly.
During our visit with Lynn and her team of Ranger Scouts protecting elephants, Connex demonstrated.
How the Baby Elephant Lost His Trunk to Animal Poaching
It was such a snare that Lynn suspects cost an elephant calf (they named Sergeant) half his trunk. The snare most likely got caught him while he was browsing about. Fortunately his trunk was severed and he got away. Had it not he would have starved to death or been speared to death by the poacher.
Sadly, poachers do not always follow up on their snares. The terrified, injured and trapped animal is left to die. With death imminent, the animal tries desperately to escape the snare. It may struggle for hours trying to free itself. Sometimes breaking teeth, claws and even chewing away flesh and bone. Who knows how hard little Sergeant may have fought to free himself, and the pain he must have endured?
Fortunately, nature is amazing!
Good News (along with the photos) just in from Lynn
“You will see little Sergeant, the small ellie from 2 years ago, who we noticed had almost half his trunk missing. We were so worried about his chances of survival, but you see him here, looking strong and healthy showing his smaller cousin how to drink by shoving the head and mouth in the water.”
Not only is Sergeant doing well, so are the other elephants. Lynn and her team of Ranger Scouts continue to protect the Thuma Forest. For over a decade this forgotten forest has been rejuvenating. Not only do Lynn and her team protect the elephants and their home, they also educate the surrounding villagers as to alternative livelihoods to poaching. And, I must mention, Lynn is very involved with local law enforcement. She is instrumental in getting arrested poachers prosecuted to the max.
Right now life is good for these elephants and young Sergaent. You can help keep it so.
Join us and sponsor a Ranger Scout
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