A Kruger National Park ranger shot a baby elephant, who was still suckling from its dead mother, despite an offer of sanctuary because of its national park policy.
The wounded baby elephant that was “bleeding from his mouth” ran into the bushes. According to the Park’s communication officer, Ike Phaala, rangers searched for the wounded baby elephant but confirmed that the baby’s carcass was never recovered.
The mother elephant died on 18 May 2021 and the baby was shot at around 17:45 the same day. Phaala explained their guiding protocol and conservation principle: “As a SANParks principle, human intervention is not permitted with regard to abandoned or orphaned animals unless the cause is clearly anthropogenic in origin. An abandoned animal may not be ‘rescued’ and brought in for care and rehabilitation. This applies particularly to large animals and, or, animals which are potentially dangerous to humans.”
He elaborated, saying that the elephant cow did not die as a result of human activity or causes and therefore, the elephant calf was not considered for “rescue”.
“As it was still suckling, it had no chance of survival on its own, and either would have been killed by predators that night, or it would have died a slow death from starvation. The humane decision was to put it down and prevent further suffering.”
This decision has, however, raised concerns and questions about these conservation protocols as a sanctuary has spoken out about this incident saying that they were ready and able to rescue the baby at their own cost. According to the sanctuary, the chances of a baby that young surviving is more than 80% and they added that, “We would have rehabilitated and then introduced the baby to the herd. There was no problem on our side.”
According to a media report, the sanctuary had received a call concerning the baby elephant and had confirmed that they were on standby to collect the baby at their own expense. However, they received a second call to say that the decision was made to kill the baby. The sanctuary was still on the phone when they heard the shot, followed by the screaming of a baby animal in pain and terror. The baby elephant’s trumpeting continued, followed by human voices shouting, the sanctuary was then informed that the baby had been shot but that it was running and bleeding from its mouth.
The tracking of the wounded calf started but was called off because it was too dark and dangerous to continue.
Sources: MSN
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