Content via IFLScience
A bull elephant, now known as “Ben,” suffering from severe dehydration and an infected wound on his shoulder, was found limping around the staff houses up a steep ridge at the Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe – seemingly looking for help and a place of refuge.
Nick Milne, the trust manager at the Bumi Hills Foundation, told News24: “Logic would suggest that if an animal has an injury that considerably hampers its mobility, it would not attempt the climb and would rather stay on the level ground near water.” But photographs show Ben seemingly peering inside the building, seeking assistance.
The complex usually houses a veterinarian, who would have been able to treat and care for the injured giant. However, by a stroke of bad luck, they were away on business for the weekend, South African News24 reports. Concerned staff from the lodge had to call in a vet from Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, over 300 kilometers (185 miles) away.
Image credit: Bumi Hills Foundation
Ben waited patiently for over 6 hours for the vet to arrive. Once on the scene, the wildlife expert tranquilized the elephant so he could clean the wounds, administer antibiotics, and apply fly-repellent.