This is the dramatic moment a baby elephant was rescued from a mud pit – by a digger.
The rescue took place near Makindu in Southern Kenya, where local farmers found the distressed male elephant desperately trying to escape after being stuck for 12 hours.
Unable to help the large mammal climb the steep clay sides, wildlife conservationists enlisted the aid of a heroic construction company, who used their digger to plough the elephant to safety.
Conservation scientist and wildlife photographer Jeremy Goss, 30, was on the scene to capture these dramatic photos and video footage of the courageous rescue on farmland bordering Chyulu Hills National Park.
He said: “It was heartbreaking to see the elephant in the well, particularly because the community had not been very keen or able to help it out.
“Elephants raid their crops and are generally not welcome, but it was a shocking sight for them nonetheless.”
The elephant was thought to be searching for water in the area, which is experiencing an unusually intense dry period, when it discovered the man-made drinking well on farmland bordering Chyulu Hills National Park, near the town of Makindu.
Finally Free: The elephant was eventually able to escape – after being given a nudge by the machine
Following the rescue, rangers were called upon to escort the elephant from the farmland back into Chyulu Hills National Park, home to the highest mountain range in eastern Kenya.
Using land cruisers in tandem with a helicopter, the rangers tried to push the elephant in the direction of the 100km long national park, preventing it from moving back towards other farms and settlements.
“I just hope that he moved back into the safe natural area, and takes bit more care next time he goes for a drink,” Jeremy said.