30-year-old lone tusker rescued from 20-ft-deep well in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada

Sampaje (Karnataka): A 30-year-old lone tusker that had fallen into a deep well in the Sampaje ghats region of Dakshina Kannada district was successfully rescued on Monday by the Karnataka Forest Department.

The elephant, which was roaming through the forested hills of Sampaje ghats, accidentally slipped into an agricultural well more than 20 feet deep. It remained trapped inside the well for nearly 16 hours.

Forest officials, led by the Assistant Conservator of Forests and Range Forest Officers, swiftly intervened and constructed a gradual earthen ramp from the bottom of the well to ground level using heavy machinery. The ramp provided a safe and stable exit route for the animal.

After spending around 16 hours inside the well, the tusker calmly walked up the ramp and returned to the forest without any assistance. Officials closely monitored the operation and confirmed that the elephant disappeared into the dense forest after emerging.

Speaking to Hans India, forest department officials said the lone tusker did not sustain any injuries despite the fall and was found to be healthy and alert throughout the rescue effort.

The timely and well-executed operation has been praised for its effectiveness in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region, which frequently sees movement of elephants and occasional human-wildlife conflict.