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Dramatic video shows vets revive unconscious elephant by JUMPING on chest after calf gets trapped in drain

A storm caused the grass to become muddy and moist, and the animal and her young fell into the 7-foot-deep hole

A stranded mother elephant and her calf were rescued from a golf course drain in central Thailand. On July 13, a storm in Thailand's Nakhon Nayok province caused the grass to become muddy and moist, and the animal and her young fell into the 7-foot-deep hole. Due to the heavy monsoon rainy season conditions, veterinarians were having difficulty releasing the duo. The distraught mother was also trying to shield her child by standing over him.

The 10-year-old mother elephant was calmed down by wildlife volunteers, but when she smacked her head on the edge of the concrete building, she was rendered unconscious. Worried vets immediately revived the mother elephant when she was pulled out of the hole with a cherry picker crane. Dramatic footage showed three vets using their weight to put pressure on the animal's chest to wake her up.

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Shortly after, the one-year-old calf was saved. The team worked on the operation for more than three hours. Dr Chananya Kanchanasarak, a veterinarian with the Khao Yai National Park Department, said, "It was impossible to get near the baby while the mother was nearby so we gave her three doses of tranquilizers but she moved towards her baby before passing out and hit her head." The mother "regained consciousness after being stimulated by both me and the baby," Chananya said.

Park rangers also feared that the mother would cry for help from the 30-elephant herd nearby if they force their way to pull the baby so they called the vets instead. A team had set up a temporary barrier to prevent them from approaching the mother and baby elephant. The young elephant, who had been confined since the previous night, suckled milk while the mother dozed off in the hole, providing some relief to the veterinarians. The vets continued their work after having the crane remove the animals from the filthy drain. Three vets leaped on the mother as soon as she reached the safe ground to revive and rouse her up because the force of the fall on her head might have injured her. Luckily, the mother elephant woke up as the veterinarians and park officers were running away, allowing the elephants to reunite.

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Delighted park rangers and emotional vets were seen watching the mother and one-year-old baby disappear back into the forest. Dr Chananya said, “Despite the obstacles, the mother did not leave her baby's side. This experience touched our hearts and will be one of the most memorable rescues we've done.” The veterinarian thanked everyone for the ‘hard work of all parties involved in the rescue’ and declared that ‘mother and baby are safe.’ Meanwhile, in Thailand, there are thought to be 4,000 elephants. The majority of species are found wandering national wildlife areas, with around half of them living in captivity in animal camps, zoos, and sanctuaries.