The male, nicknamed Pretty Boy is thought to have had the gunshot wound for several weeks before being rescued.
The elephant was found by veterinarians from Aware Trust Zimbabwe in Mana Pools National Park.
They had earlier received reports from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority that two injured elephants were in the park.
They noticed a hole in Pretty Boy’s forehead and tranquillised him so he could be treated.
The team sedated him, took an X-ray and cleaned the wound but judged it safer to leave the bullet in place, Dr Lisa Marabini told the BBC.
She said the elephant is believed to be around 25 years old and might require further treatment.
“We think he was shot outside of the park and came into the park for refuge,” she said. Hunting areas exist near the park.
She said Pretty Boy approached the veterinarians and showed no aggression.
“He was lucky. The bullet must have glanced off the surface of his skull. After the first shot he must have turned to flee. The perpetrator fired another shot at his heart, because he had another abscess in his shoulder. He is recovering but it is going to take a while. He may need a second treatment. The X-ray showed a lot of infection and pus within his sinuses.”
“At least now the pieces of dead bone have been removed, so his body can take over the healing process.”
Earlier this year, an Italian father and son were killed by wildlife rangers in Mana Pool during an anti-poaching patrol in an apparent case of mistaken identity.
