In a remarkable rescue mission, the Sri Lankan navy saved an elephant that was spotted five miles out to sea, desperately trying to keep its trunk above water.
The 12-hour rescue operation has been described as a “miraculous escape” for the animal.
Watch the video at the end.
Navy spokesman Chaminda Walakuluge explained that the navy, along with wildlife officials, began the mission after noticing the struggling elephant off the island’s northeast coast.
Divers approached the animal, tied ropes around it, and gently towed it to shallow waters near the coast, where it was released on Tuesday.
The elephant likely got swept out to sea while crossing the Kokkilai lagoon, a large body of water between two jungle areas.
Walakuluge said elephants often wade through shallow waters or swim across to take shortcuts.
This rescue follows a recent incident where the navy and local residents saved a pod of 20 pilot whales stranded near Trincomalee, a natural harbor popular for whale watching.
The area has a high concentration of blue and sperm whales, while the surrounding jungles are home to wild elephants.
Watch the video below:
