Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and over 300 bird species. It is also home to many endangered animals, and a dedicated team ensures their well-being.
When a group of vets received a call about an injured elephant, they immediately set out to help. They had no idea the elephant would approach them so calmly despite having a severe injury.
After a closer look, they saw a hole in the elephant’s head. The elephant, later named Pretty Boy, had been shot weeks earlier and had been walking around with a bullet lodged in his skull.
Veterinarians Keith Dutlow and Lisa Marabini from AWARE Trust Zimbabwe went to search for Pretty Boy, expecting to spend hours locating him. But to their surprise, the elephant walked right up to their truck as if he was asking for help.
“He made himself available for examination within half an hour, coming right up to their car,” AWARE Trust Zimbabwe wrote on Facebook.
An X-ray revealed that a bullet was still inside his head. The shot had hit just slightly too high to be fatal, causing a fracture in the bones of his sinuses. The bullet had traveled nearly two inches from the wound and was still lodged inside.
The wound had become infected, and a thick gray discharge was seeping from it. The vets had never seen anything like it before.
They removed bone fragments, cleaned the wound, and gave Pretty Boy antibiotics to help him heal.
The X-ray showed how close he had come to losing his life. The bullet had missed a critical area by less than an inch.
Upon further examination, it became clear that Pretty Boy had likely been shot before. The vets believed he had been injured outside the park and had entered the area seeking safety. Despite everything he had endured, he remained calm and trusting.
After waking up from treatment, he found a tree to rest under. By the next day, he was feeling much better.
Thanks to the quick work of the vets, Pretty Boy can now be monitored in the park, safe from harm.
