Wild elephant keeps returning ‘just to say hello’ to the vets who saved his life
A wild bull elephant has returned for another reunion with the veterinarians who saved his life several years ago, Kenya wildlife officials said.
“This bull has returned to visit us from time to time, just to say hello and show his appreciation for those who answered his call for help,” officials with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust said in a June 24 Facebook post.
In July 2023, in a display of “ highly unusual” behavior, a wild bull elephant “calmly” approached the Ithumba Unit stockades after being shot in the ankle with an arrow.
“It was clear he was asking for help,” experts said.
The head keeper at Ithumba, with the help of the Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit, treated the elephant, saving its life as joint injuries can be lethal, according to rescuers.
“It’s important to remember that this bull is entirely wild,” the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust said. “And yet, despite being wounded by human hands, he understood that we are a benevolent presence in the landscape — a place where he could find sanctuary in his hour of need.”
The rescue team called that day “remarkable,” noting that even the elephants who accompanied the bull remained calm “as if they implicitly understood that whatever was happening was for the patient’s own good,” according to a 2023 news release from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
The team called this “one tale among a library’s worth of remarkable stories” that showcases how intelligent and intuitive elephants are.
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM with the headline "Wild elephant keeps returning ‘just to say hello’ to the vets who saved his life."
