Trapped elephant escapes canal by use of ingenious rope ladder

A lost elephant fell into the main canal of a village in eastern Sri Lanka on December 8, necessitating an ingenious rescue by using special rope ladders.

The elephant, estimated to be 25-years-old, had wandered into the canal in Welikanda near Polonnaruwa on the eastern side of the island nation. After swimming alone for some time, it had to be driven down the canal towards a specially made ladder, using ropes, sticks and tyres, that had been prepared by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The helpless elephant was pressed toward the ladders by using firecrackers to spook it along the canal, but it failed to climb out multiple times.

After conducting a 6-hour mission the wildlife officials, with the help of local villagers, successfully rescued the elephant, which immediately retreated back into the forest.