An elephant that got caught in a fishing net was rescued by forest officials in southern India's Karnataka state, on Tuesday (January 19).

The incident took place in the Nugu reservoir, located in the Heggadadevana Kote region of Mysore district.

Video footage shows the elephant stuck in a fishing net and floating on the surface of the water.

The elephant lifts its trunk out of the water and attempts to break free of the net as the rescue team rushes in a motorboat to begin the rescue operation, which lasted for almost eight hours.

Forest officials from Nugu, Bandipur, and Sargur areas reached the elephant, along with a unit of the Special Tiger Protection Force.

Video footage also shows the elephant swimming back to the shore and walked back into the forest unharmed after heaving itself out of the water.

The rescue operation was initiated under the guidance of the Conservator of Forest and Field Director, Mr. Natesh, Nugu Forest Range Officer, Geetha Naik, and Assistant Conservator of Forest of Hediyala Subdivision, Mr. Ravikumar.

The Hediyala Forest Range Officer and staff, Fire Department Staff, and the local police were also present at the scene.

An elephant that got caught in a fishing net was rescued by forest officials in southern India's Karnataka on January 19. The incident took place in the Nugu reservoir, located in the HeggadadevanaKote region of the Mysore district.

A video witnessing the incident features the elephant swimming on the surface of the water. The magnificent creature gets stuck in a fishing net and floats in the middle of the water body. It occasionally lifts its trunk out of the water and attempts to break free of the net. The rescue team rushes to the spot in a motorboat and immediately begins the rescue operation.

Upon being alerted, forest staff and teams from Nugu, Bandipur and Sargur areas reached the spot along with a unit of the Special Tiger Protection Force. They pressed a motorboat into the service of the rescue operation that lasted for nearly eight hours.

The rescue operation was initiated under the guidance of Conservator of Forest (CF), and Field Director, Mr. Natesh, Nugu Forest Range Officer, Geetha Naik, and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) of Hediyala Subdivision, Mr. Ravikumar. The Hediyala Forest Range Officer and staff, Fire Department Staff, and the local police were also present at the spot.

After being stranded for eight hours, the elephant swam back to the shore and walked back into the forest after heaving itself out of the water.