Amara Conservation - 2002 - Rescuing the Orphaned Elephant Burra

Rescuing Baby Burra
An Inspiring Survivor
From the June 2002 Newsletter

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We've committed to sponsoring the care of this little elephant, Burra. He was found with a snare wrapped tightly around his neck

Lori visits baby Burra. In spite of a serious
injury, it looks like he'll pull through.

and ear, by a team who were chasing elephants off farms around the park. He fell behind as he was so weak, and his mom left him. Danny Woodley and Isaac Maina removed the snare, with Herculean effort. Danny is the Warden of Tsavo East Northern Area, an area over 5,500 sq miles. He is working very hard. He and his wife are also caring for the baby leopard, Mtito, for whom we raised over $1,000. Isaac was the head keeper at the elephant orphanage, and is now the team leader for the new de-snaring team. Little Burra was found near an area called Bura, so Daphne Sheldrick named him "Burra".

Removing the snare from Burra

We are paying for Burra's full keep, which is $750/month, at least for the first 6 months. We have also supplied the vehicle for and are pledging more support for Isaac's team. (Isaac's team is called the "Bura Team" by the Trust, partly in honour of the little elephant, and also because the area where he was found is one of their prime work areas at present.) There are a lot of snares there.

Burra is an example of the pointless tragedies perpetrated by snares, but he is recovering nicely in the care of the Sheldrick Trust, with his new family of keepers and other little orphaned eles.

Although he bears the scars of his injuries,
Burra is now able to flap his ears,
an important elephant cooling mechanism