Thrill of seeing an elephant translocation

Elephants wallow in the mud at Aberdare National Park. (Photo/Peter Muiruri)

I thought I had a wealth of adventure experience sky diving, bungee jumping, snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, hiking, forest-bathing and cultural interactions. But never a live elephant translocation!

That changed on Sunday in October. Destination? Mwea where elephants were being moved to Aberdare.

Our ten-seater Caravan flight left Wilson Airport a few minutes after 7pm. 30 minutes later we landed at the Masinga Air strip, ready for an onward transfer by helicopter to the Mwea National Reserve KWS base camp. 

Here, we found a beehive of activities. During the briefing, I learnt that time was paramount. “This is part of my passion – to witness fast-hand, a historical happening fit to go down in history as the eighth wonder of the world and fit to be top on the list of Magical Kenya experiences,” said Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.

Right from the briefing to the wild releasing of the two families of elephants (they were part of the 56 elephants moved from Mwea to Aberdare), the entire operation was intriguing. Carried to precision by a 100-member team, the command chain was meticulous. 

After the briefing, we got into into the lined-up vehicles, and heavy machinery for the first step of the translocation – tracking the elephants , a process that was guided by two helicopters. This was the ‘capture’ stage. 

Next was the darting (tranquilising) by the helicopter personnel. Once the elephants were sedated, (20 minutes after darting), the ground team of doctors and assistants in trucks, pulley trucks, and special transportation trucks took over. 

The elephants were checked for injuries, and abscesses, obtaining blood samples, and other tests. Once this was done, the elephants were ready for the next move. 

They were fitted with four straps, one on each leg, and lifted upside down by a crane. It looked uncomfortable, but a specialist explained that this was the safest and best practice. 

The elephants were individually loaded and carefully positioned into the trucks, ready for transportation to the Mwea Reserve KWS base where they were transferred to carefully positioned recovery crates. These had been specially made to accommodate up to 5 elephants depending on the size of the mammals that can weigh up to five tons.

Special care was given to load the cow with her calves to ensure that they were never separated throughout the process. This entire process was performed with speed, care, and the two families were ready for their 124-kilometre journey to Aberdare National Park. 

In two hours, the highlight of this mission – watching the elephants being released into the Aberdare forest was a spectacle to behold.

First, security had to be right and tight, with rangers in position and the rest of the members of the convoy watching from secure four-wheel trucks. 

The consequences were explained: the possible reaction from the elephants after the doors were opened, (the elephants could surge at the crowd).  Then came the moment! With some of the rangers atop the large heavily built and secured truck, others stood on the side with their riffles cocked. The rangers on top of the truck slowly opened the heavy back doors of the truck. 

Suddenly, the atmosphere surrounding the rush-green forest was still. Then before my own eyes, the curtains were drawn open, and a movie-like scene unfolded. 

As the first family came out, mother and baby look confused at first, then in an instant, the confusion seemed to go, and mother and baby looked ahead, and saw the green thick forest beckoning. The mother guided her baby forward and in a few minutes, they took a dash and disappeared into the darkness. 

Next was the family of three. The process was repeated, but the next mother with two calves was so confused that instead of dashing towards the enticing new home of plenty, she surged back towards the truck with her calves, and for a slit second seem ready to attack.

I closed my eyes for what seemed like an eternity. When I opened them, I had missed the most dramatic scene of what happened and saw the family of three trooping into the thick forest.