A 15-year-old elephant was rescued after spending 10 hours trapped in an abandoned well in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. The incident occurred on Tuesday at around 2:00 am near the home of Dr. Thattayath Aliyar. The well lacked a protective wall, leading to the elephant's fall.
Rescue Operation
Forest officials deployed an excavator to create a mud ramp, enabling the elephant to climb out safely. Witnesses reported that the elephant initially struggled in the muddy water but eventually managed to free itself and return to the forest.
The rescue was delayed until noon due to protests from local residents. They demanded that the elephant be permanently relocated away from human settlements. After a meeting, divisional forest officer P. Karthik assured villagers that the elephant would be monitored via drones and forest patrol teams upon release. Authorities also pledged to compensate the homeowner for damages and install an electric fence in the area.
Old Injury
Forest officials noted that the elephant had an old wound on the top of its trunk, which restricts its ability to forage for food and water. This injury likely explains why the elephant frequently wanders into residential areas in search of easily accessible sustenance.
