Heroic Vets Save 4-Ton Elephant From Poison Dart Poaching Attack

Thanks to swift movement from a veterinary rescue team, a large bull elephant who was targeted by poachers for his ivory has survived and rejoined his herd. The animal was shot by a poison dart, which created a large abscess on his side. As the poison spread through his body, the elephant was left immobile -- and would have died on the savannah.

Luckily, rangers spotted the four-ton elephant from a helicopter in Kenya and quickly called the vets at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. They tranquilized the animal, drained his wound and pulled out the arrow, then cleaned the wound with green clay to help him heal. After just fifteen minutes, the tranquilizer wore off and the bull was able to get up and run off in the direction of his herd, a bit dazed -- but still alive.

You can see the heroic rescue below. [Warning: Video contains some graphic images]