Officials in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, southern India, used an excavator to help an elephant escape a muddy pool.

Footage from May 15 shows the elephant on its side struggling to find its feet in the slippery pit.

An excavator is then used to help lift the animal up enough so it could plant its feet and regain its balance.

After the elephant escaped the mud, the local officials kept an eye on it to ensure its health. It then gradually made its way back into the forest.

Heartwarming visuals have emerged of an adolescent elephant that was rescued by forest officials after it got stuck in a muddy puddle at the Moleyur range of Bandipur tiger reserve, Karnataka, southern India on May 15th.

A JCB earthmover was used to lift and balance the stuck beast from the sticky pool of mud.

The elephant was assumed to be stuck after it went to take a muddy bath to beat the summer heat and then got stuck in the sticky mud and couldn't come out.

The elephant kept rolling to come out but was eventually exhausted in the process as shown in the video.

A few locals who saw the incident alerted the forest officials who came to rescue the pachyderm with a JCB crane.

The elephant was nudged a little and then pushed to the edge of the pool after which the elephant gained balance and stood up.

The forest officials kept it under watch for a few hours and then left after it seemed healthy. The elephant retreated gradually towards the forest.