A family of African elephants made a lucky escape after they became stuck in a muddy pool in Kenya.
Pictured: A family of three elephants – a mother and two youngsters – managed to get themselves stuck in the mud in Kenya
Conservationist Dr Kieran Avery, 34, from Kenya received a call from members of the local community about the elephants stuck in the mud (pictured) and set about rescuing them from their predicament
Using a tractor (pictured in the background) and well places straps, Dr Avery said he and his team were able to free the elephants from their muddy prison. They likely got stuck in the mud when they stopped off at the water in a dam for a drink
Pictured: Locals (seen in the background) gather around the family of elephants that got stuck in the mud in Kenya as a rescue plan is hatched to save the struggling and exhausted animals
It is believed that one of the two younger elephants would have fallen into the muddy pool first. Elephants are loyal creatures, and the other two are believed to have fallen in themselves when they tried to help the youngster escape
The plan to save the elephants (pictured) was complicated by the fact that there was three of them, Dr Avery said. If the conservation team tried to save the beasts one at a time, the others would stop the rescuers from touching their companion
Because of the risk posed by saving the elephants (pictured) one at a time, the three elephants all had to be saved at the same time, Dr Avery said after the successful attempt
‘Luckily, none were injured – they were all just exhausted, in particular the middle aged one. It required a big effort to move them all at the same time because you can’t move one at a time, the others will grab you.
Pictured: Locals gather around the muddy pool in which three exhausted elephants had become trapped in Kenya
The muddy pool in which the elephants got stuck in was next to a dam reservoir (pictured in the background). The elephants (pictured) were likely going to the water’s edge to drink when they got stuck in the mud
Dr Avery said the rescue process involves carefully positioning straps in a way that will allow the tractor to pull the elephants (pictured) out and ensuring that the elephant doesn’t grab someone with her trunk which would result in serious injury
‘All in all, a really successful mission. One thing to really emphasise is the team effort side of this, from a whole host of organisations with different assets and skills.
Pictured: The three exhausted elephants lie on the ground after being pulled out of the muddy pool by a tractor
Pictured: Marks in the sand showed where the elephants were dragged from the muddy pool. They were seen laying in the sunshine to regain their energy after struggling in the mud
Pictured: The two youngsters were the first to get up off the ground after being freed. They waiting by the mother elephant while she lay on the ground for longer
After being rescued, the two younger elephants were seen happily trotting around the mother elephant while she lay on the ground to regain some of her energy
Pictured: One of the straps used to free the elephants is shown on the ground while the mother elephant lays on the ground
Last month, a single female elephant got stuck in the mud in the same place in Kenya, with Dr Avery also coming to the rescue with his team using the same tried and tested methods.