Reflecting on just how far he has come in the past five years, we are in awe of our beloved Long’uro as we celebrate his rescueversary! Rescued after being stuck in a well and attacked by hyenas, he was left with only a third of his trunk, but that’s never stopped him – on the contrary!
Against all the odds, Long’uro is thriving, and he’s adapted to life as a special-needs elephant in such clever ways. With every milestone reached, he is showing us, his peers, and his followers all over the world that there is no limit to what he can do! Day after day, he is changing how we think about conservation and animal behaviour.
Long’uro’s story keeps unfolding – through his journey to become a wild elephant bull. But if there’s one thing we have learned these past five years, it’s that Long’uro will show us the way.
Our team received news of a seriously injured calf who had been stuck overnight in a well near Loisaba Conservancy. He was found in a critical state, crying out for his mother – afraid and in pain. Added to the terror of being abandoned and trapped for so long, the calf had lost two-thirds of its trunk during a hyena attack in the night. An elephant’s trunk is its most versatile tool, making this a harrowing and extremely painful loss.
Vets from Kenya Wildlife Service and Reteti rushed to the scene – and at the time, the poor little elephant was bleeding profusely and struggling to breathe. Its condition was dire, and the team had to consider euthanasia to free him from his agony.
But ultimately, Long’uro’s story is one of courage, and the united voice of a community that’s being heard. And here at Reteti, we favour the brave! The little calf was fighting for his life, and so would we!
Guided by his spirit of resilience, it was decided that the team would do everything in its power to keep him alive. After being airlifted directly to Reteti by Tropic Air, Long’uro was placed in a stable that had been specially prepared for him.
In less than 24 hours, Keeper Mary Lengees had established a powerful bond with Long’uro. Mary is one of the first women keepers at Reteti, and with her endless patience and wealth of experience in caring for baby elephants, she enveloped him with a soothing presence. Because of Mary’s care and love, Long’uro never fell into depression, as baby elephants who had been deeply traumatised often do.
In the beginning, when his brain hadn’t adjusted to his trunk no longer being there yet, Long’uro kept bumping into things – or he’d reach up to scratch where his trunk had once been. It was heartbreaking to see, because even the smallest impact would cause him to shriek with pain.
As the months went by, Mary dedicated her entire existence to Long’uro – caring for him like a son. Mary’s nurturing, as well as the community’s commitment, have been integral to Long’uro’s story of survival and hope.
While all logic suggested it’s not possible for an elephant calf who’d been stuck in a well, separated from its herd, and brutally attacked by hyenas to survive – the community at Reteti in Northern Kenya disagreed.
Shortly after Long’uro arrived at Reteti, the veterinarian team from Kenya Wildlife Services prepared for Long’uro’s surgery. The veterinary surgeon carefully cleaned his wounds, removed loose and torn skin, and neatly closed the wounds and gashes on his short trunk. In the days following the operation, Mary kept the wounds clean and the veterinarian would visit regularly to check on his progress.
Thinking back now, we realise it was a miracle that Long’uro never got a bacterial infection, given all the wounds on his trunk, face, and ears.
