And you thought your bathtub slip was dramatic!
An Unexpected Plunge
In Yunnan province, China, community quick thinking came to the rescue as an Asian elephant got a bit too adventurous, sinking himself into a deep watering hole. While most of us have our share of awkward pool exits, imagine trying to get out without lengthy limbs, and oh, carrying almost 8 tons of weight.
Initially, there were four ‘water babies’ but three managed to self-rescue, leaving the fourth in a lather about his unrequested bath.
The Innovative Intervention
As per Inside Edition reports, and against the backdrop of the rapidly declining Asian elephant population – currently at a low of around 300 – every rescue matter. In came the sledgehammer wielding hero of the hour, aimed at the brick wall of the pond. Mission? Drain some water and give our heavyweight hero a fighting chance of rolling out.
The Sweet Escape
The intervention, a smashing success! The mighty beast managed to pull himself from the aquatic jaws of the pond and reclaim dry land. Chen Zhiyu of the Liushun Town Forest Service Center shared a heartwarming instance of the elephant’s gratitude, saying it gazed at the rescuers for about two minutes before departing. A short but poignant show of appreciation.
Animal Adventures
We do see our fair share of animal escapades. Recall the chubby hedgehog in Germany, stuck between quite literally a brick and a hard place. Or the owl in Florida that seemed to forget the basics of flight, colliding with a truck and ending up behind its grille.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, we are left with reassurance, an affirmation of humanity and its willingness to help creatures big and small, be it elephants, hedgehogs, or owls. After all, as the saying goes, the greatness of a nation can be judged by how its animals are treated.
Stay tuned for more exciting animal rescue stories! (and remember to always keep your local rescue service number on speed dial).
