Success Story

The wild is a dangerous place, and a one-year old calf in Sumatra found that out when her foot was caught in a snare set by poachers to catch small game for food in Way Kambas National Park.  Unable to keep up, the severely injured calf was abandoned by her herd.  When found by the International Elephant Foundation-supported Elephant Response Unit (ERU), the snare had cut all the way to the ankle joint and the calf was starving and weak and the leg badly infected.  The ERU quickly intervened, first cutting open the snare and freeing the calf, and then taking her back to the base camp for intense veterinary care to save her life.  After several months of round-the-clock care, antibiotics, special food, and lots of love, the calf’s foot is healed and bearing weight and she has been adopted by one of the female ERU elephants.  While she will likely always limp, this little elephant will be able to live a long life because of the quick, careful actions of the ERU and their constant efforts to protect elephants and habitat for critically endangered Sumatran elephants. By protecting elephants and their habitats, IEF is building a future where elephants can thrive.