On July 13, 2022, in the midst of monsoon rains in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand, a dramatic rescue unfolded at Khao Yai National Park that would capture the hearts of animal lovers worldwide. It was a story of quick thinking, teamwork, and the relentless determination of a group of wildlife officials and veterinarians to save the lives of two elephants—a mother and her calf—who had become trapped in a deep concrete drain.
The trouble began when a one-year-old elephant calf, while navigating the golf course area in the park, slipped into a concrete drain. The calf’s frantic cries for help quickly attracted the attention of its mother, a 10-year-old elephant, who stood guard over her young. But in an unfortunate twist of fate, the rescue mission would soon turn into a race against time.
As park rangers and a team of veterinarians worked to free the calf from the manhole, the mother elephant, desperate to protect her calf, was tranquilized so that she could be safely moved. However, in the process of being sedated, the mother elephant struck her head against the edge of the concrete drain, knocking her unconscious. To make matters worse, she too fell into the hole. The rescue had just taken a dangerous turn.
The rescue team knew that time was critical. The mother, unconscious and lying immobile, needed urgent attention, and the calf was still stuck, its tiny form trembling in the depths of the drain. Using a truck-mounted cherry picker crane, the team managed to lift the mother elephant out of the hole. But the situation was dire—her life hung in the balance. With no time to spare, the veterinarians immediately jumped into action, performing CPR on the large mammal. They climbed atop her massive body, jumping up and down on her chest to help restart her heart, a scene that would be difficult to imagine but was absolutely necessary to give her a fighting chance.
Dr. Chananya Kanchanasarak, a veterinarian with the Khao Yai National Park Department, explained the difficulty of the situation: “It was impossible to get near the baby while the mother was nearby. We gave her three doses of tranquilizers, but she moved towards her baby before passing out and hit her head.” It was a tense moment, but soon, the mother elephant responded. “She regained consciousness after being stimulated by both me and the baby,” said Dr. Chananya.
With the mother elephant now revived, the focus shifted back to the calf. While the rangers and veterinarians worked tirelessly, a digger cleared away the surrounding earth, allowing the young calf to climb out of the 7-foot-deep drain. The hours of labor finally paid off when both mother and calf were freed from the perilous trap that had nearly claimed their lives.
As the last part of the rescue unfolded, a powerful image emerged. After being reunited, the calf, now safely free, sought out its mother. In a heartwarming moment, the young elephant began suckling from the mother, a sign that both had survived the ordeal and were ready to return to their natural life.
The entire rescue operation took more than three hours, but it was a success that showcased the unrelenting dedication of the wildlife rescue teams and their commitment to protecting endangered species. The teamwork, courage, and determination of the rescuers ensured that these two elephants, who faced such a perilous situation, could live to see another day.
The rescue of the mother and calf elephant is a reminder of the unpredictable challenges faced by wildlife in the modern world. With human development increasingly encroaching on natural habitats, the risk of animals getting trapped in such dangerous situations continues to rise. Yet, the story of this dramatic rescue offers hope, demonstrating that with enough compassion, expertise, and quick action, lives can be saved—even when the odds seem insurmountable.
The bond between mother and calf elephants is strong, and this rescue was not just a triumph for wildlife conservation but also a testament to the power of love, determination, and human ingenuity.
