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Pilot rescues baby elephant who survived massacre - by flying it home in four-seater plane | Pilot rescues baby elephant who survived massacre - by flying it home in four-seater plane |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A US missionary has described the moment he managed to rescue an orphaned baby elephant whose entire herd had been massacred by flying it home in a four-seater plane. | A US missionary has described the moment he managed to rescue an orphaned baby elephant whose entire herd had been massacred by flying it home in a four-seater plane. |
The nine-month-old animal, who was called Max by his rescuers, was found in a national park in Chad by pilot Gary Roberts. | The nine-month-old animal, who was called Max by his rescuers, was found in a national park in Chad by pilot Gary Roberts. |
Mr Roberts told the BBC World Service he flew to the area where the elephant massacre had occurred to see if reports of a sole surviving baby elephant were true. | Mr Roberts told the BBC World Service he flew to the area where the elephant massacre had occurred to see if reports of a sole surviving baby elephant were true. |
Upon finding the massacre zone he witnessed “just piles of bones […] and large pools of blood on the ground that you could still see from so many animals”. | Upon finding the massacre zone he witnessed “just piles of bones […] and large pools of blood on the ground that you could still see from so many animals”. |
"We were able to confirm about 100 animals had indeed been massacred at that site," he said. | "We were able to confirm about 100 animals had indeed been massacred at that site," he said. |
“[When we found Max] he was tied up to a tree where he had been for the last three-to-four days. He was getting weak, but also very angry because he had just been tied up to a tree”. | “[When we found Max] he was tied up to a tree where he had been for the last three-to-four days. He was getting weak, but also very angry because he had just been tied up to a tree”. |
Mr Roberts said Max was initially hostile towards him, but after spending some time with the animal and feeding it formula it became “accepting” of him. | Mr Roberts said Max was initially hostile towards him, but after spending some time with the animal and feeding it formula it became “accepting” of him. |
The group then loaded the 350lb creature into the four-seater plane and filmed the journey back to their compound, a 75-mile trip he described as a “tight fit”. | The group then loaded the 350lb creature into the four-seater plane and filmed the journey back to their compound, a 75-mile trip he described as a “tight fit”. |
In the video, Max can be seen drinking water and moving around the aircraft. | In the video, Max can be seen drinking water and moving around the aircraft. |
“He was quite interested in playing with my controls at some point and would put his trunk forwards and feel my hands and face,” Mr Roberts said. | “He was quite interested in playing with my controls at some point and would put his trunk forwards and feel my hands and face,” Mr Roberts said. |
Tragically, Max died from the ordeal a week later, despite being under the 24-hour care of Mr Roberts and his wife. | Tragically, Max died from the ordeal a week later, despite being under the 24-hour care of Mr Roberts and his wife. |
“We pulled out all the stops, we did everything possible, "he said. "Taking care of a starved elephant is very similar to taking care of a starved human baby." | “We pulled out all the stops, we did everything possible, "he said. "Taking care of a starved elephant is very similar to taking care of a starved human baby." |
Video courtesy of newsflare.com |