Cello's Story

On April 18, 2009, shots rang out in northern Kenya, and Lewa security received a report that two elephant had been shot.  Cello, one of Lewa’s best-known elephant

Cello in her prime

and matriarch of the “Instrument Family,” was now fighting for her life.  Her family had scattered in terror, and her three-month-old daughter would most certainly die.

Cello walked for eight days with little food or water, making her way back to Lewa where she knew she would be safe.  She was spotted as soon as she arrived and was treated within hours.  A bullet was removed from her right front leg, the wound was cleaned, and she was given massive doses of time-release antibiotics.   Although this treatment is often very effective, there was serious concern because bone fragments were found in the wound.   Over the next few days, Cello was closely monitored and appeared to improve; the infection was subsiding and the swelling was going down. 

Cello's wound was cleaned and long acting
antibiotics were administered

However, within a week, Cello began to deteriorate, and the decision was made to treat her one more time.  We knew there was a good chance that she might not have the strength to get up, but without treatment, she would surely die.  At 3:45, Cello was darted.  Working as quickly as possible, the team cleaned and flushed the wound and, again, injected large doses of long acting antibiotics as well as pain killers.  The "wake up" drug was given and everyone anxiously stood by.  At first, nothing.  Slowly, Cello began struggling to get to her feet, but it soon became apparent that she could not get up on her own.

Ropes were secured to Cello's tusks and a car was positioned
under her haunches to help her get her to her feet

The Lewa team sprang into action and, over the course of the next hour, strategically put ropes and cars in position. The men had to exercise extreme caution while trying to position the ropes around Cello’s tusks because although she did not have the strength to get to her feet, she was now awake and had full use of her potentially lethal trunk.  Once the ropes were in place, one car was angled to pull the ropes, and the other was stationed behind her haunches to help push her to her feet.  After several failed attempts and just when it appeared that Cello no longer had the strength to try again, all of the pieces of the puzzle came together.  The ropes were in place, the vehicles were in position and she began to rock.  At 5:13, Cello was on her feet.

Amazingly, Cello made no effort to charge the vehicles or the men who were on the ground.  On some level, she must have known that despite her fear and trauma, everyone was there to help her.  She had thanked us in her own way.

Cello was alive and over the coming weeks appeared to be improving.  However, her life still hung very much in the balance.

To be continued. . . . . .