During an animal rescue operation that lasted for more than four hours, the Tamil Nadu Forest team successfully saved a gaur (Indian bison) that had accidentally fallen into a 50-foot deep natural well near Manaparai Range on January 30.

The incident occurred near the Manaparai Range at Nadupatti Village in Trichy, close to the Semmalai Reserve Forest.

“A few kilometres away from the forest’s boundary, there are agricultural lands and wells. At 4 am on Tuesday, 30 January, farmers heard the gaur’s cries from outside and rushed to find a female gaur, weighing approximately 600 kg, stuck in a deep well,” Dr Kalaivanan, forest veterinarian from the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve told.

“I received a call immediately, and while heading to Tiruchy, we (the forest team) began brainstorming potential solutions to lift the gaur,” shared Dr Kalaivanan, who played a crucial role in devising rescue strategies, which were then executed by the Fire Department.

“Due to the absence of barriers in most of these wells, such incidents occur. When the bison grazes on the grass, they tend to slip and fall. Many cases have been reported around Manaparai, Thuvarankurichi, Ponnamaravathi, and Azhagar Kovil,” mentioned the vet, with over two decades of experience.

Footage sources by forest department