This is the heartwarming moment an entire village united to haul a trapped baby elephant from a 20ft well.
The three-month-old calf toppled into the hole when its 20-strong herd trampled through a community.
A video shows forest officers and locals lowering a net into the hole, climbing in, and villagers cheering as the animal is lifted to safety.
The excitable calf is then held up by the rescuers as it finds its feet – and marched towards the herd waiting at the edge of the jungle.
Range Forest Officer A Babu said: “A herd of more than 20 elephants entered the village.
“After damaging crops in the farms, the herd returned back into the forest in the night.
“The next morning during routine rounds, our team heard the wails of a baby elephant and found it trapped in a 20 feet deep dry well where it had fallen in the night.
“We immediately started rescue efforts.
“A large net was lowered into the well, and four of our staff entered the well to coax the calf into the net.
“The distressed calf immediately rushed towards it rescuers in relief.
“Our staff covered its eyes with a piece of cloth to calm it down, and then coaxed it into the net which was pulled up with the help of villagers.
“The calf had not sustained any injuries at its fall. In fact, it was so energetic that it started running wild after being brought out of the dry well.”
The herd came from the Udedurgam forest and entered into Pavadarapatti village in Krishnagiri district on January 15, and was rescued the next day.
