Elephant rescued from mud at Tamil Nadu reservoir receives treatment

Forest personnel pulled a female elephant from mud near Gunderipallam dam in India's Erode district on October 11. The Hindu reported that the animal, estimated to be 40 years old, could not stand after being freed and was receiving veterinary attention.

Passersby spotted the elephant at approximately 5:30 a.m. and alerted the Forest Department. T. N. Palayam forest staff and Sathyamangalam fire and rescue personnel responded.

Rescuers used ropes and an earthmover, but the machine also became trapped in mud, complicating the operation. The Times of India separately reported the rescue effort and deployment of veterinarians.

Water levels at the reservoir have fallen recently, and wild animals regularly visit to drink. The suggestion that the elephant entered the muddy area while moving with its herd remains an explanation reported by the source.

A veterinary team from Sathyamangalam assessed the elephant after it was freed. Further treatment was to depend on its condition. No full recovery had been announced in the available report.