A crater left by a U.S. bomb during the Vietnam War, decades ago in Cambodia, nearly claimed the lives of a whole family of elephants this week.
The crater – which has recently been used to store water by local farmers – lies in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. When farmers discovered 11 elephants stuck in the crater, which had become full of sticky mud, the animals were struggling desperately to get out. The farmers rushed to tell the local Department of Environment about the family in need.
People offered the three adult elephants and their eight children some food to help them feel safe and also to help them regain their strength.
“They were so hungry, they munched it down and it gave them some energy,” Jemma Bullock, program manager for ELIE, said.
People offered food to the elephants to help them gain their strength. | ELIE
Rescuers brought a hose over to the hole to loosen the thick mud and make it easier for the animals to move their limbs. The fresh water also helped the elephants cool down, since they’d been stuck there while the hot midday sun was beating down.
Rescuers hosed down the family of elephants, hoping to loosen the mud. around them. | ELIE
People dug ramps into the pit that the elephants would be able to use to climb out safely.
ELIE
Finally, the mother elephant, who was the leader of the herd, moved toward the exit, and the elephants started to climb out.