Four days. That is how long it took rescuers to pull a male elephant out of the mudflats of Kilifi Creek, in Kenya, as the tides rose and the ground gave way beneath his feet. 🐘
It was not a simple operation: the animal weighed tons, the straps broke in several attempts and, in the middle of the operation, his companion died shortly after being dragged onto firm ground. Despite everything, the teams did not stop. They brought in heavy machinery, reinforced the equipment and tried again. When they finally managed to free him, the elephant stayed beside his companion’s body before allowing himself to be guided to safe ground. 💔
The release happened just minutes before the water completely flooded the area. Tracking teams accompanied him for several kilometers to make sure he was safe. A rescue that came right to the exact limit. ⏱️