In the heart of the Tiva River wilderness, a remarkable saga unfolded on July 26, 2021, when pilots embarked on a routine patrol. Their discovery of a distressed seven-month-old baby elephant marked the beginning of a riveting wildlife rescue that would test the limits of human determination and compassion.

The stranded calf, seemingly abandoned and alone, became the focal point of a comprehensive search for other elephants within a 15-kilometer radius. Despite the pilots’ concerted efforts, no other elephants were found, and as daylight waned, the urgency of the situation intensified.

Recognizing the immediate need for action to prevent the calf from disappearing into the dense bush, pilots Roan Carr-Hartley and Hamish devised a daring plan. With Hamish providing a brief landing, Roan disembarked to track the calf on foot armed with nothing but the shirt on his back.

Roan’s sprint through over a kilometer of thick bush, guided by the helicopter from above, led him to the distressed young elephant. Employing a calming tactic, he covered her eyes with his shirt, initiating a tense chase as the frightened calf evaded capture, darting through the undergrowth.

Roan’s resourcefulness and determination prevailed as he managed to restrain the calf, preventing her from vanishing into the bush. However, a new challenge emerged – coaxing her through a kilometer of dense vegetation.

Over the next two hours, Roan and Hamish delicately guided the young elephant towards the waiting helicopter. As the late hour posed a threat, Hamish left to gather reinforcements and supplies, leaving Roan alone with the calf.

Within 800 meters of a potential landing point, Roan faced the daunting task of recapturing the calf. Employing every ounce of strength and ingenuity, he wrestled with the thrashing elephant, using shoelaces as makeshift restraints. Alone in the bush, Roan spent an anxious 90 minutes bottle-feeding the dehydrated calf, praying that the commotion wouldn’t attract Tsavo’s lions.

The sound of the approaching helicopter marked the end of Roan’s solitary ordeal. Hamish and Keepers Kingoo and Joseph coordinated efforts to secure the calf.

The exhausted team, equipped with proper elephant straps, faced the final hurdle of lifting her into the helicopter. After three unsuccessful attempts, a collective surge of strength finally hoisted Rokka into the helicopter, heading towards the Kaluku Neonate Nursery as darkness fell.

A dedicated crew awaited at the nursery, unloading Rokka and ushering her into her new sanctuary stocked with fresh greens and water. Surrounded by reassuring rumbles from fellow elephants Lemeki and Thamana, Rokka finally found solace.

Having overcome immense challenges, the exhausted rescue team slept soundly that night. Dubbed Rokka after her rescue in the Tiva River region, this spirited young elephant showcases a level of resilience that belies her age.

Despite her traumatic experience, Rokka navigates her new home with the confidence of an elephant twice her size.

Her unwavering determination was crucial to her survival during the lonely days along the Tiva. The discovery of poached elephant carcasses in the vicinity shortly after her rescue raises the possibility that Rokka’s mother may have been among them.