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19:46, 15-Jul-2017
Sri Lankan navy rescues elephant washed out to sea
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Sri Lanka's navy rescued an elephant which got washed out to sea, a spokesman said Wednesday, calling it a "miraculous escape”.
The spokesman said the navy mounted the 12-hour rescue after spotting the elephant struggling to stay afloat around eight kilometers off the island's northeast coast.
Sri Lanka's navy has rescued an elephant that got into difficulties after being washed out to sea. /VCG Photo
Sri Lanka's navy has rescued an elephant that got into difficulties after being washed out to sea. /VCG Photo
Divers aided by wildlife officials approached the distressed animal and tied ropes around it before towing it gently to shallow waters near the coast, where it was released late on Tuesday.
The spokesman mentioned the elephant likely got swept into the sea while crossing the Kokkilai lagoon, a large stretch of water that lies between two areas of jungle.
"They usually wade through shallow waters or even swim across to take a short cut," he said.
Six weeks ago, the navy and local residents saved a pod of 20 pilot whales which were stranded in the nearby Trincomalee, a natural harbor popular for whale watching.
The waters around Trincomalee, which was used by Allied forces as a staging post during World War II, have a high concentration of blue and sperm whales, while the surrounding jungles are home to herds of wild elephants.
Source: AFP