The last time I checked Little Male (M-192) was seen on the 6th of September 2008, to the east of the park in a place called Olo doare with a spear in his trunk. The following days after he was speared, a search party was initiated both by air and on the ground for three days, but he was never seen anywhere.

For about six months, he was not seen in the park or even in areas where the AERP field staff visits when monitoring elephants outside the park.

During that time I had lost all hope, given that a male of his quality, possessing such an injury, and then having gone completely out of sight. I could not imagine the worst happening whatsoever since Little Male’s big and beautiful tusks were the reason he got speared in the first place, by poachers!

On 23rd April, we could not believe our eyes when Norah and I bumped into him as we were driving towards Warden’s office at around 10 am. He was looking healthy and strong: No spear on his trunk but a healed scar. We could not control our feelings of happiness and great excitement.

I just would like to send sincere gratitude to all who posted comments wanting to know how the situation was and the whereabouts of Little Male.