Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Indian rescue workers save baby elephant from canal and carry it home to its mother

Rangers return starving and disorientated animal to nearby forest where worried parent was waiting

Sanjay Pandey
Friday 22 December 2017 12:21 GMT
Comments
Rescuers carry starving baby elephant on their shoulders to reunite it with its worried mum in India

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

This is the heartwarming moment rescuers carried a starving baby elephant on their shoulders to reunite it with its worried mum.

The baby elephant had fallen into a canal and was separated from its mother, leaving it disorientated and hungry.

Rangers pulled it out and tried to push it towards the area of the forest where its mother was waiting - but it kept returning to the rescue party.

They were left with no choice but to sling the little nelly over their shoulders and carry it to its mother in Ooty district of Tamil Nadu, India.

Finally the mother visited the calf again and managed to coax it back into the jungle.

After the elephant kept returning to its helpers they decided to carry it home SWNS
After the elephant kept returning to its helpers they decided to carry it home SWNS (PA)

One onlooker said: "Forest officials were alerted after a female adult elephant was found near Mettupalayam forest department, attacking vehicles and civilians who were attempting to enter the area.

"Personnel burst crackers to scare the animal away, but it kept coming back.

"When they managed to push away the elephant to safe distance, they noticed that the calf was stuck.

"The forest department team safely pulled baby out of the trench.

"A member of the rescue team carried it on his should to return it to its mother."

SWNS

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in