1.
SV Helicopter flying over elephants in kruger National Park, South Africa (2 shots)
0.16

2.
SV Elephant on ground after being tranquillised
0.29

3.
MV Elephants running and young animal falls
0.43

4.
CU Elephant on ground with rangers approaching in lorry
0.51

5.
CU Elephant's ears moved while ranger checks temperature of animal
1.04

6.
MV Ranger pouring water onto elephant's ear
1.17

7.
CU Antidote injected into elephant's ear
1.23

8.
CU Elephant pushed into crate
1.33

9.
SV Crate being loaded onto lorry
1.39

10.
SV AND AV Lorry with crates
1.50

11.
SV Lorry arriving at the Londolozi Game Reserve
2.11

12.
MV Warden opens crate and elephant steps out (3 shots)
2.40



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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: As part of a long-term conservation programme, herds of elephants are being transferred to game reserves throughout South Africa. Moving the elephants is a delicate operation requiring a great deal of scientific skill.

The whole moving process, as shown here in Kruger National park, is supervised by a team of veterinary surgeons. Helicopters are used to help the rangers in their selection process and also to move the animals into positions where they can easily be retrieved by truck.

Tranquillising darts are fired to put the chosen elephant to sleep - the method is quick but gentle, with no suffering to the animal. The dosage loaded into the dart is based on the size and age of the elephant - and they must be carefully chosen from the herd.

As the young elephant becomes drowsy and falls over, it is safe for the rangers to move in.

Once again, great care is taken. The elephant's ears are flapped because the back of the ear is cooling area - controlling the temperature.

Pouring water on the ears also helps to keep the animals's temperature down.

A quick acting antidote to revive the elephant is injected into a vein behind the ear and the elephant recovers almost immediately. As the animal awakes, the ranger and his assistants lead him into a crate.

Guide ropes are used to help the animal into the specially constructed crate and, in this way, he can be moved without injury.

During the journey a ranger keeps a close watch on the elephant and water is poured over his ears to cool him.

At last...his new home, Londolozi Game Reserve.

As the elephants arrive, a warden is on hand to greet his new charges. Once again the animals are carefully inspected.

The elephants are kept in a boma -- a special enclosure until they have adapted to the change and accepted their new home. Here another young elephant has the chance to wander free in his natural surroundings.