As East Africa continues to suffer from drought, decreasing supplies can have unanticipated consequences for wildlife.
Two elephants were stranded in Kenya last September as a result of low water levels at a dam near the Tanzanian border. According to a statement made by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, elephants explore drying dams in quest of water.
According to Africa Times, after one slip, they find themselves in a hazardous situation after becoming permanently entangled in the muck.
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The elephants fell and are unable to stand, which wildlife experts describe as an all-too-common occurrence. They went on to say that without assistance, it becomes a death trap.
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Fortunately, Wildlife Works, a Kenyan community-based conservation organization, received a film of the two elephants shortly after they were spotted.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was approached for helicopter backup, and the Kenya Wildlife Service was dispatched to investigate.
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Rescue workers were able to extract one female elephant, reported to be in her teens, after digging into the mud and laying bands beneath her.
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She was then able to stand on her own after being removed by an automobile.
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The second elephant, perhaps eight years old, was even more difficult to liberate, but once free, she ran into the woods.
According to the Kenya-based foundation, if the drought continues, these situations will reoccur.
They stated that the crew was back in action just a few days after a similar event in August, when they saved a very valuable pair from the same muddy trap.