Eleven elephants found themselves in a difficult situation when they became trapped in a flooded bomb crater at a wildlife reserve in Cambodia.
The dramatic rescue unfolded over the weekend, capturing the attention of conservationists and locals alike.
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Initially discovered nearly submerged in the murky waters of the crater, the elephants had ventured in to quench their thirst but were unable to find their way out.
Keo Sopheak, head of Cambodia’s environmental office in eastern Mondulkiri province, revealed that the elephants had been stuck for three agonizing days before their plight was discovered.
Rescue efforts were swiftly mobilized as members of the wildlife agency WCS rushed to the scene. Manual excavation of one side of the pit commenced, painstakingly creating an exit route for the stranded elephants. Additionally, water was pumped into the crater to soften the mud, facilitating the animals’ escape.
The emotional moment of liberation was captured on video as the elephants trumpeted joyfully upon regaining their freedom and returned to the safety of the nearby jungle.
This miraculous rescue saved the lives of eleven elephants, including three calves, and served as a poignant reminder of the challenges facing Cambodia’s wildlife.
Habitat loss has contributed to a decline in the population of endangered Asian elephants in the country, with only a few hundred believed to remain.
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