On the 6th day at the Mara we were once again
called to an injured elephant. I can’t believe the constant pace the veterinary
unit has to keep up 24/7. After a 2 ½ drive we arrived on scene. Once again the
KWS wardens were already on site. I loved this efficiency. The poor Bull was
part of a herd of bachelors of about 10 individuals which had stayed behind caring
for their companion. On observing the elephant walk we saw a very swollen left
hind foot and the angle at which he was dragging it behind him suggested a
broken femur bone. Don’t ask me how an elephant breaks his leg in such a way. I
imagine he may have stepped in a hole and thus injured it. We will never know.
The bull succumbed to the M99 within 7 minutes and once again
he fell on the wrong side with the injured leg on the bottom. On cleaning and
examining the wound it was evident that the skin of his foot pad had detached
which is not a good sign. The pulse Oximiter beeped away as was intended. We
decided that he may have a chance and administer antibiotics and pain
medications. On a closer examination we decide to roll him over the get a
better look at the injury. This was no easy task as the rope snapped on a few
occasions. During this procedure I was holding his trunk extended as to make
sure he could breathe properly. That is a very heavy trunk and I inadvertedly
reinjured my ailing old man’s back which put me out of commission for one days
rest.
The sight was not pleasant as the entire bottom of his foot
had been eroded away from him dragging it behind him. The use of the portable
x-ray machine back in Nairobi could have been useful in this instance. Poor
fellow must have been in excruciating pain for over a week or so for this
injury to have become so severe.
The other 10 bull waited patiently placing themselves in a
protective stance around a tree only a few hundred meters away but not
interfering with our grim duty.
Unfortunately there is no cure for this injury and the bull
was efficiently euthanized while he was still sleeping. At least he was no
longer suffering.
To my amazement Dr Dominic started to autopsy the leg to
seek the source of the break. This as you may imagine is not an easy job. We uncovered
the break at lower femur confirming out diagnosis and correctness of our
procedures.
The group of his companions silently moved away as If they
knew what had transpired.
A sad day for us all but Africa can be unforgiving.
