In a remarkable display of trust, an injured elephant, later named Ben, sought assistance from humans after being shot by poachers.
The male elephant astounded guests at the Bumi Hills Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe when he approached the premises.
Nick Milne, the lodge manager, quickly noticed Ben’s limping and severe injuries. With the lodge’s in-house veterinarian away for the weekend, another veterinarian volunteered to travel 200 miles to provide care for the wounded elephant.
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During the six-hour wait for the vet’s arrival, Ben remained nearby, drinking water and grazing patiently.
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Upon tranquilizing and examining Ben, experts discovered a deep wound in his shoulder, likely caused by a poacher’s bullet.
To their dismay, they also found two bullet holes in one of his ears, indicating that the elephant had likely survived two separate attacks.
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Following treatment and disinfection of his wounds by the veterinarian, Ben has been recuperating on the lodge’s property. Equipped with a tracking device, experts are able to monitor his progress and recovery.