A young elephant calf, badly wounded by a poacher’s snare around its leg, is sighted on Mpala. Kenya Wildlife Service vets and Mpala rangers race to dart, treat and free the animal before infection sets in.

Snares set for bush meat catch many non-target animals — including endangered elephants. Each rescue is a reminder of the daily cost of poaching, and of the partnership between KWS, Mpala and surrounding communities that keeps these animals alive.