New Delhi: Indian Forest Officer Parveen Kaswan has posted on X a video of an incredible two-day rescue operation of a wild elephant trapped in a canal in Karnataka’s Shivanasamudra.
According to reports, on Saturday night, the pachyderm entered the canal of a power generation unit to drink water but got stuck there, unable to climb back out.
Rescue work began Monday, but initial efforts came to naught.
On Tuesday, forest officials brought in a hydraulic crane to lift the elephant to safety from a depth of 60 feet. Reports say over a 100 personnel were involved in the operation.
Water flow from the reservoir was first reduced. A dart was then used to sedate the tusker, following which it was transferred to a flat platform that was then lifted out of the canal.
The last few seconds of the clip show the elephant walking away, back into the forest.
I just shared few pictures and videos of this operation. But one can imagine how this mammoth was lifted, released and saved. Specially when they don’t volunteer. I have personally overseen many rescue operations of mega herbivores including rhinos and elephants – and let me tell… pic.twitter.com/7NxgFhRyYW
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) November 19, 2025
Kaswan praised the forest officials and staff involved, pointing out that rescue operations of mega herbivores like elephants and rhinos are never an easy task, with each rescue posing a unique set of challenges.