This African Elephant Was on the Brink of Death When It Was Saved. You Won’t Believe How!
The Liwonde National Park is located just off of Lake Malombe in Malawi, Africa. The park is almost globally acclaimed as one of the greatest places in the world to see some of the world’s largest and most beautiful creatures in action. One particular animal, the elephant, brings tourists from all walks of life in order to revel in their presence.
Still, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t an ugly underbelly coursing through the park. Poachers have made a habit of intruding upon the land, injuring these wonderful creatures in the process. One elephant was found trapped on its side, a crude wire trap wrapped around its ankle, edging ever closer to death. What happened next will stun you and re-ignite your faith in humanity. Keep on reading to learn about the luckiest elephant in Africa and how a group of humans saved its life.
Liwonde National Park
Located in Malawi, the Liwonde National Park was established in 1973. The park consists of more than 400 different birds and the majority of the largest animals in Africa: Elephants, Crocodiles, Buffalo, and Hippopotamus among others.
Protected Borders
In order to protect all of the animals therein, the local Malawi government decided to install a 4,000ft fence around the borders of the park. This serves to help in efforts to reintroduce volatile, rare species of animals such as the rhino or the eland. The fence also serves as a clear warning to more nefarious groups: poachers.
The Scary World of Poaching
Before we dive into the story of our lucky elephant and the heroic humans it is important to understand just how bad poaching is in Africa. Over a three year period over 100,000 African elephants will be killed by poachers who are seeking ivory. Central Africa has already lost close to 65% of their African Elephant population — according to the National Geographic.
Successful Conservation Efforts
Despite the dark side of poaching, the conservation efforts at Liwonde National Park have been doing exceedingly well. The Liwonde elephant population has risen from 200 to 900 animals since the park’s inception. These numbers are huge for a species that is constantly being hunted by illegal poachers.