A wild bull elephant got stranded in a paddy field in northern India, prompting a 20-hour rescue operation by forest officials.

The 60-year-old male elephant got stuck in some swampy land in in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh on Friday morning (July 21st).

The farmer who owned the rice paddy discovered the elephant that morning and immediately called for local forest department officials to save it.

However despite rigorous efforts to free it, including use of tractors and digging machinery, the animal died possibly of fatigue but further investigation is underway.

Local forest official Ramesh Chandra commented: “We did our best to save the tusker but all efforts to rescue the animal went in vain. A team experts will conduct a post-mortem examination to know the reason for the death."

A 60 year old male wild elephant got stuck in swampy land of paddy field in Bhaguwala area in Bijnor district on Friday ( 21st july) morning.
Joint teams of forest department and the wildlife Institute of India made relentless efforts for over 20 hours to rescue the elephant. But unfortunately the elephant could not be saved.
The paddy field in Bhaguwala forest became swamp due to excessive rain water in which the elephant got stuck. When the farm owner reached his field in the morning, he saw the elephant trapped in the field and informed the forest department.
forest conservator, Moradabad range, Ramesh Chandra said, “We did our best to save the tusker but all efforts to rescue the animal went in vain.” Earlier, soon after getting information, a team of forest officials led by officiating DFO, Bijnor, Ashutosh Pandey reached the spot and started rescue work.

Later a team of WII also joined the rescue operation, Chandra said. Machines and tractors were used in lifting the elephant and eventually it came out of the swamp and moved. However, it again got trapped in another swampy land, he added.

A medical team administered drip and injections to the elephant. However, the tusker died around 8am, he said. As per Chandra, the animal might have died due to fatigue. “A team experts will conduct a post-mortem examination to know the reason for the death,” he said.