A newborn elephant calf had to be carried on a wildlife official’s shoulders after being rescued from a canal in southern India.
Footage captured the moment when a forestry worker transported the calf safely. The young elephant had been part of a herd passing through the forests of Nellimala in Ooty when it accidentally fell into a canal and became trapped in the mud.
The calf’s mother, in distress, attempted to help but couldn’t reach her baby. In her frustration, she damaged vehicles and chased people away, prompting villagers to call forest officials for assistance.
The team calmed the situation and kept the mother at a safe distance while they worked to free the calf.
However, the baby elephant, estimated to be just a few days old, was understandably frightened and resisted their efforts.
The video shows men in camouflage gear comforting the anxious, dehydrated calf, which repeatedly tried to run away from them.
To prevent the animal from wandering onto the road, one of the volunteers gently hoisted it onto his shoulder and carried it back toward the forest.
The rescue team gave the calf glucose and coconut water to rehydrate it before returning it to the wild to reunite with its mother.
The calf, likely born only days earlier, was still unsteady on its feet and trembled as it took steps toward freedom.
