Elias knew he had to make a break for it, but he was outnumbered. Two of the men pivoted instantly, closing the distance to intercept him before he could move, while the leader remained focused on pinning the struggling calf to the earth. Elias lunged, hoping to sprint toward a high ridge where the terrain might allow his radio to punch through the interference. It was a desperate gamble. He made it only ten feet before the two men tackled him from behind.
He fought back with everything he had, but it was two-on-one, and the leader was quickly joining the fray. They pinned him to the ground, his face pressed into the hot, abrasive dust, while the leader struggled to wrestle the thrashing, desperate calf toward their vehicle. The calf remained a nightmare to handle; it kept ramming them, its thick hide and stubborn strength causing the men massive frustration.
“Quit that!” one poacher shouted, striking the animal, but the calf only growled and shoved back harder. Elias saw his chance to grab a man’s arm, but another blow to his ribs sent a wave of agony through him, pinning him back into the earth. The poachers were relentless, and the calf was beginning to show signs of exhaustion. But that’s when it happened…