An elephant was rescued from drowning on Monday. The elephant was bathing in a canal in a northwestern farming district in Sri Lanka when he was swept downstream in a strong current.
While he was in the water, the gates opened to the farms causing a strong current. He was fighting to stay above water. Villagers watched from a bridge over the canal as the elephant struggled to keep from being swept under.
Wildlife officials came to the rescue. With the help of villagers, they made a ladder of chains and wood. They placed it in the water near some steps, hoping the elephant would be able to secure his feet and climb out.
They threw firecrackers into the water to direct the elephant towards the steps. The elephant, completely exhausted, eventually got out of the canal. He ran into the nearby jungle.
Elephants in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is facing a serious elephant-human conflict, with 405 elephants and 121 people killed in 2019 alone. Most elephants are killed by farmers protecting their land, while people often die when elephants enter villages in search of food after losing their natural habitat.
Experts say the situation briefly improved during the COVID-19 lockdown, but warned it won’t last without long-term solutions.
Conservationists stress that with only around 7,000 elephants left in Sri Lanka, urgent action is needed to protect the endangered animals and prevent further loss on both sides.
