On the morning of Wednesday 12th March a call was received by DSWT Nairobi about a small elephant alone on the banks of the Galana River opposite Kulalu Lodge, a large ranch on the eastern boundary of Tsavo East National Park. A plane was swiftly dispatched from Wilson airport in Nairobi carrying the keepers and all the necessary equipment to help capture and keep the orphan calf safe so it could be flown back to Nairobi. It was a turbulent flight as the plane flew south. The clouds that had been threatening rain in Nairobi slowly evaporating as the countryside beneath grew ever drier. Cultivated terraces below gave way to red soil, sparse bush and dried up river beds as the plane flew over Tsavo East. A few lonely elephants were spotted as the plane drew closer to the Galana River, the only permanent water source in the area.
Concerned guests at the nearby Kulalu Lodge had made sure that Danissa airstrip was clear and ready for the plane to land safely, even attaching a flag of toilet-roll to the wind sock just to be sure it was visible! Vehicles were on hand to help transport the keepers from the plane some 5km to the river bank, where the frightened little elephant was hiding in brush close to the river. The slope down to the bank was very rocky and steep, not too difficult to get down but nearly impossible to carry an elephant up, even if it was only a baby! Having assessed the situation the decision was quickly made that the elephant would have to be persuaded to move along the bank to where the slope was more gentle and the vehicle could be accessed. Two keepers stealthily tried to get behind the elephant to help flush him out but this proved entirely unnecessary as the feisty little chap decided to chase off the keeper in front of him and half the distance was covered in a flash.