Conservationists efforts to rescue trapped elephant unsuccessful

NORTHERN PROVINCE Kinigi — efforts by conservationists to rescue an elephant which slid and got stuck in a ravine, on the slopes of mount Bisoke were unsuccessful as it finally died after six days of futile attempts. A team of conservationists including park authorities, veterinary doctors from Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project-MGVP and other field workers as well as community members were all involved in the futile rescue effort. Park authorities, upon being asked by the New Times about what might have led to the unsuccessful effort indicated that the rescuers revealed that the possibilities of helping the elephant was extremely difficult due to the angle at which it was trapped. The rescuers reported that the possibilities of immobilizing the elephant were minimum because moving it from where it was trapped was very difficult. Dr.Felix Kinani from MGVP, said that a partial necropsy showed that the elephant did not suffer from any form of dangerous infection. He said it was almost impossible to save the elephant due the dangerous ravine which had trapped it, and noted that such natural occurrences led to the death of such animals. Ends