Mutara, one of our collared elephants, was recently treated for a gunshot wound to his front left leg after EarthRanger alerts flagged a concerning slowdown in his movements. Thanks to the swift response of our HEC Scouts, the KWS–SFG Rapid Response Unit and KWS vets, Mutara was located and immobilised. The team cleaned and treated both the entry and exit wounds, administered strong pain relief and safely revived him. Though he struggled to stand afterward, the intervention gave him a real shot at recovery. He will be closely monitored over the next two weeks for signs of improvement. Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) has been the leading cause of elephant deaths in our landscapes since 2018. This year alone, we’ve lost a number of our collared elephants to HEC. Mutara’s case is a stark reminder of how critical rapid response is and how urgent the need remains to protect these giants. (fb)

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