Even elephants understand that people are different. These smartest animals are still the object of illegal hunting in Africa. Just like hundreds of years ago, ivory is highly valued on the black market, prompting poachers to exterminate tens of thousands of them annually.
The story of this elephant brings back faith in humanity. He almost died from a well-aimed shot by a poacher. By a lucky chance, the bullet fired in the forehead got stuck in the dense bone. Everything would be fine, but an infection got into the wound. The elephant could have died from septic shock.
The mighty animal went to the people for help. The employees of the national park did not immediately understand why he was purposefully walking towards them. Every one knows cases when enraged elephants sweep away everything in their path. But when the wounded man approached, the rangers realized that he was asking for help.
Medics and rescuers quickly arrived at the scene. So that the veterinarians could examine him, the animal was immobilized by a shot with an ampoule of a tranquilizer. A portable X-ray showed that there were no internal injuries, but the wound itself requires immediate surgery. Transportation of an elephant in such a state is undesirable, so it was operated on immediately.
The hardest thing was to pull out the bullet, it was firmly held in the skull. Nevertheless, it was safely removed, and the wound was cleaned, treated with antibiotics, and stitches were applied. The doctors waited until the patient wakes up and comes to himself after anesthesia.
Pretty Boy, as the reserve staff called him, was not immediately able to get back on his feet. He even had to lean on a nearby tree. Now the rescued elephant has become his own for people who can and will monitor his well-being. They are determined to do everything so that he no longer has to suffer at the hands of poachers.