Kerala: Wild elephant rescued from well after hours of operation

A wild elephant trapped inside a well in Kothamangalam area in Ernakulam district was rescued after hours of operation by forest officers. Locals reportedly blocked forest rangers initially agitating against not taking any preemptive action.

Ernakulam (Kerala): A wild elephant trapped inside a well in Kothamangalam area in Kerala's Ernakulam district was rescued after hours of operation. Fortunately, the elephant did not sustain severe injuries. It elephant was found trapped inside the well in the premises of one Gopalakrishnan's house on Wednesday. Forest range officers and locals reached the spot upon receiving information. With the use of an excavator, the side of the well was knocked down and a pathway for climbing was prepared.

Stirred by the elephant's presence, locals reportedly blocked the forest rangers for not taking any preemptive action. Gopalakrishnan demanded compensation for the damage caused by the elephant, according to sources. The rescue operation was halted for a while and later resumed after the intervention of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).