Moment wild elephant trapped in water pit rescued using excavator

Cameras have caught the moment a 2,500-kilogram elephant was rescued from a water pit after becoming trapped.

Authorities were called to the female, who was in the forest in Jinghong, Yunnan, when she became stuck.

After park rangers were unsuccessful, they had to dig the animal out of the hole using an excavator.

As wild female Asian elephants can drink up to 100 litres of water every day, it’s assumed she was on the hunt for a drink at the time.

The elephant sustained no serious injuries, but was visibly exhausted from the ordeal.