The Sri Lankan Navy shows the rescue of an elephant that was spotted struggling to stay afloat in deep sea waters, some eight kilometres (five miles) off the island's northeast coast. Sri Lanka's navy has rescued an elephant that got into difficulties after being washed out to sea, a spokesman said "miraculous escape". Chaminda Walakuluge said the navy mounted the 12-hour rescue after spotting the elephant struggling to stay afloat around eight kilometres (five miles) off the island's northeast coast.
Two elephants were rescued on Sunday as they were swept away by the current in the open sea in Sri Lanka.
Two young elephants were rescued from drowning on Sunday while in the open sea, the Sri Lankan navy said.
The two pachyderms were brought back to earth after “colossal efforts” which required the efforts of divers and many boats to bring them back to shallower waters, she said.
Photos show the endangered elephants, struggling to keep their trunks above the water in deep water 1 km offshore.
Released into the jungle
After being brought back safe and sound ashore, the baby elephants “were released into the jungle” in the northeast of the island, the same source said.
Two weeks ago, another elephant, also in distress in the open sea where the current had swept him away, was rescued 8 km from the coast. It had taken 12 hours, once the animal was spotted, to rescue it.
Navy officials say the animals were surely swept away as they crossed shallow lagoons.
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