Just like Elerai, who we rescued a few weeks back, Kitiak also gave off a false impression. Despite looking quite youthful, his huge tusks made him appear much older than he actually was. However, after taking a closer look, the Mara Mobile Vet Unit of SWT/KWS realized that Kitiak was too young to be on his own.
The wounds on his physical form were a cause for greater worry. The Mara region is presently grappling with a serious challenge of human-animal conflicts, and regrettably, our squads are quite familiar with the signs of this issue. After scrutinizing the injuries minutely, they determined that the marks were due to the piercing impact of arrows.
The story of how Kitiak became an orphan is shrouded in mystery and may never be fully uncovered. It’s possible that Kitiak lost his family during a conflict between humans and animals which resulted in him getting hurt. Alternatively, he may have faced challenges while living alone in the Mara.
Following deliberations with KWS and Mara management, it was concluded that the baby elephant needed to be rescued. Although it was a fairly sizeable operation, the rescue went seamlessly without any hitches. The young elephant was safely transported to Olare Motorogi airstrip and flown to Nairobi.
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Kitiak will soon embark on a new adventure in Nairobi and eventually the Tsavo ecosystem, but his beginnings in the Mara will always hold a special place in his heart. He was discovered by a stream called Ntiakitiak, which is why he was named Kitiak, as a tribute to his origins.
Kitiak is a gentle and independent bull who exudes calmness and stoicism. He tends to be reserved and submissive, allowing younger bulls such as Mukutan and Taabu to take charge during their playtime, even though he could easily overpower them. It is unclear whether Kitiak will become more dominant over time or if his gentle nature is inherent. Despite his shyness, he has developed close relationships with Ahmed and Elerai, and the three of them often spend their time peacefully meandering through the forest. It is heartening to see Kitiak contented and surrounded by friends, especially given his challenging past as a calf.
Gal Gadot, the popular actress famous for her role in Red Notice, has expressed regret for her decision to arrange a quarantine version of John Lennon’s “Imagine” during the peak of the pandemic in March 2020. In an upcoming interview with InStyle, the 36-year-old Israeli actress and mother of three acknowledged that she was well aware of the virus’s rapid spread in Europe and Israel prior to its arrival in the United States. However, she admitted that her video was inappropriate and released prematurely. She recognized that despite her good intentions, her timing was off and that mistakes can be made even with the best of intentions.