Darting an elephant

What you’re seeing here is an elephant being separated from the herd into a safe space – using sirens to get its attention – where it is darted by the guy in the helicopter. Out of shot is a ground crew who, while the elephant is sedated, will fit this matriarch with a collar so that the herd’s future movements can be tracked. Elephants are incredibly protective of their own and they will try to protect the sleeping matriarch, which can be very dangerous for the crew, so the helicopter continues to keep the herd away. Once the collaring is done, the elephant will be given a reverse drug to wake her up, and she’ll be reunited with the family.