A lost elephant fell into the main canal of a village in eastern Sri Lanka on December 8, necessitating an ingenious rescue by using special rope ladders.

The elephant, estimated to be 25-years-old, had wandered into the canal in Welikanda near Polonnaruwa on the eastern side of the island nation. After swimming alone for some time, it had to be driven down the canal towards a specially made ladder, using ropes, sticks and tyres, that had been prepared by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The helpless elephant was pressed toward the ladders by using firecrackers to spook it along the canal, but it failed to climb out multiple times.

After conducting a 6-hour mission the wildlife officials, with the help of local villagers, successfully rescued the elephant, which immediately retreated back into the forest.

A 25 year old elephant has fallen into the main canal in Welikanda in Polonnaruwa in srilanka on 8th Dec.When the rescuers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation setup a rope ladder for the elephant to come of out the canal, the Elephant tried but failed and fallen in to the canal many times.The helpless elephant looked at the rescuers and signals them to help.Then the rescuers created strong multiple rope ladders with used tyres and guided the elephant to the rope ladder by bursting crackers. After conducting 6 hour mission by the wildlife officials and with the help of villagers, the elephants has been rescued.The rescued elephant moved to the forest region and the officials chased the elephant with crackers to avoid human conflict.The elephant which was rescued has been moved to the forest reserve in Welikanda.Large number of crowd gathered to watch the elephant being rescued.