A wild Asian elephant was rescued from an abandoned water pit in a village in Jinghong, Southwest China's Yunnan Province on September 17, after rescuers used an excavator to free the trapped animal, according to a report by the Xinhua News Agency on Monday.

The elephant, confirmed by the rescue team as an adult female, fell into the pit while foraging.

The pool, constructed by villagers as a reservoir, is about two meters deep, and its length and width are just large enough to match the size of the elephant, making it difficult for the animal to turn around. After several attempts to climb out, the elephant's energy was severely depleted, and digging an opening in the pool is considered the best option.

After excavation, a gap was made in the pool, allowing the elephant to slowly and steadily climb out. Once rescued, the elephant didn't leave right away. Instead, it stared at the operator of the excavator for a full two minutes.

From the time the report of the trapped elephant was received to the moment the elephant climbed out of the pool, the operation took five hours. A 30-minute monitoring period followed after the rescue, during which the elephant was observed reuniting with its herd to the nature reserve.

Asian elephants, a critically endangered species, are a national priority for protection in China. Conservation efforts have seen their numbers grow from fewer than 150 in 1976 to over 300 today, despite global population declines.

Global Times