Baby Elephant Successfully Saved from Steep Manhole in Thailand; Calf’s Mother Sedated to Allow Rescue Operation

Wildlife officials recently announced that a baby elephant was rescued dramatically from a manhole in central Thailand following the sedation of his mother, to enable operation.

The calf, a Phys.org report said, fell into the drainage trough on the Royal Hills golf course's outskirts in Nakhon Nayok province early morning of Wednesday.

The distressed adult female elephant, believed to belong to an elephant herd traveling through the nearby jungle, stayed with the young animal as it could not climb out of the steep pit.

The two were discovered by a passerby who immediately alerted the officials at the wildlife and the authorities at Khao Yai National Park to the pachyderm's plight.

Tranquilizing Mother Elephant

According to a similar Khaleej Times report, would-be rescuers were initially unable to help the baby elephant because of its worried mother's presence. Because of this, they were forced to tranquilize the mother elephant.

Regrettably, the adult animal then tumbled partly into the hole prior to being pulled out, with the help of a trigger, and was able to revive later, a report from the Department of National parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation specified.

Eventually, the calf was rescued from the pit and reunited with his mother, with the authorities at the park verifying the pair had safely gone back to the jungle.

Baby Elephant Behaviors

According to a BioExpeition report, elephants are among the few wild animals that form "strong bonds of companionship, family, and friendship.

Additionally, they can recognize not just their mothers, their fellow calve, and siblings, but their grandmothers, cousins, nieces, and aunts, as well, and at times, even their fathers.

Baby elephants are described as "cute, playful," not to mention making a lot of noise. They are inclined to stay close to their mothers.

A single mind-blowing fact about these young elephants is that nearly all of them are born at night, most probably since it is harder for predators to find them.

Attachment to Mother

The probable reason the baby elephant rescued was near its supposed mother is the former's nature of being attached to its mother.

According to The Elephant Guide, baby elephants learn to fend independently at around eight months old in the wild. At this age, the calf eats vegetation and learns to follow its herd.

Also, they can travel long distances with the herd at this age. In captivity, baby elephants are frequently weaned from their mother's milk at an earlier age, typically six to eight months old.

This is due to the fact that they are kept in tinier enclosures compared to those found in the wild and should be taught how to eat solid food.

Essentially, the baby elephant's life is filled with many new experiences. They are constantly learning from their mothers and others from their herd.

Lastly, elephants are playful and love to play with each other. They frequently trump to make a noise, sounding like a trumpet, and flap their ears when they feel very happy or enthusiastic.

A report about the rescued baby elephant is shown on The Telegraph's YouTube video below:

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