“Hold On, We’re Lifting You Home”—Heartfelt Rescue as Stranded Elephant Herd is Gently Hoisted to Safety by Crane

Conservationists tranquillised the ten-foot-tall beasts and carefully bound their feet together

IT could be a real-life remake of Dumbo – an ­elephant high in the sky. And this animal was not the only one who was airborne.

 Flying high ... jaw-dropping snaps show wayward elephants being lifted to safety by a crane

Flying high … jaw-dropping snaps show wayward elephants being lifted to safety by a craneCredit: Media Drum World

 Feeling drowsy ... the herd fall asleep after being safely tranquillised before being rescued

Feeling drowsy … the herd fall asleep after being safely tranquillised before being rescuedCredit: Media Drum World

These incredible images show how a herd of ­elephants was rescued after the naughty animals decided to escape from their nature reserve.

 Out for the count ... the herd were tranquillised before the rescue mission began

Out for the count … the herd were tranquillised before the rescue mission beganCredit: Media Drum World

 The impressive pictures show how the elephants were lifted by crane and placed onto transporter trucks

The impressive pictures show how the elephants were lifted by crane and placed onto transporter trucksCredit: Media Drum World

 The 8,000 pound animals were then taken back to their home reserve

The 8,000 pound animals were then taken back to their home reserveCredit: Media Drum World

A crane hoisted the elephants, each weighing about 8,000lbs, on to a special transporter.

They were then driven ten miles back to the safety of their home, where the game reserve’s wardens gently revived the sleeping animals and helped them get up.

 The 10-foot-tall elephants were handled carefully by the rescue team

The 10-foot-tall elephants were handled carefully by the rescue teamCredit: Media Drum World

 The amazing pictures were taken in Southern Africa by conservation photographer Pete Oxford

The amazing pictures were taken in Southern Africa by conservation photographer Pete OxfordCredit: Media Drum World

 The shots caught the enormity of the creatures and the amazing rescue

The shots caught the enormity of the creatures and the amazing rescueCredit: Media Drum World

 Sweet dreams ... a sleeping elephant before being air-lifted to safety after escaping 'home' reserve

Sweet dreams … a sleeping elephant before being air-lifted to safety after escaping ‘home’ reserveCredit: Media Drum World

 Stunning shots show rare images of the 8,000lb animals being hoisted into the air by crane

Stunning shots show rare images of the 8,000lb animals being hoisted into the air by craneCredit: Media Drum World

 A rescue team dedicated to keeping elephants safe worked carefully with sleeping herd

A rescue team dedicated to keeping elephants safe worked carefully with sleeping herdCredit: Media Drum World

Photographer Pete Oxford was invited by the rescue team to ­document the amazing operation in South Africa.

 The crane was used to lift the sleeping animals safely onto the truck

The crane was used to lift the sleeping animals safely onto the truckCredit: Media Drum World

 The rescue team are dedicated to helping elephants at risk of extinction

The rescue team are dedicated to helping elephants at risk of extinctionCredit: Media Drum World

 A sleeping elephants is gently lowered onto the truck

A sleeping elephants is gently lowered onto the truckCredit: Media Drum World

 Wakey, wakey ... after being brought safely home two elephants come round and start to get back on their feet

Wakey, wakey … after being brought safely home two elephants come round and start to get back on their feetCredit: Media Drum World

 The rescue mission was a huge success and kept the endangered herd safe

The rescue mission was a huge success and kept the endangered herd safeCredit: Media Drum World

African elephants can live for up to 70 years and are the ­largest animals walking the earth.

But they are at major threat of extinction due to poachers targeting them for their tusks.