The S Ln Navy recovered an Asian elephant from the In Ocean. The animal was probably crossing the Kokkilai lagoon, a sizable body of water wedged between two jungles, when it became stuck in a riptide or current that took it out to sea, according to military personnel.
Elephants frequently swim, which may surprise some people, but this is a typical pastime for elephants. Elephants are skilled swimmers and can cross straits up to 6 miles apart to get from one island to another. However, an elephant’s swimming range is typically far shorter than 10 kilometers. The S. L. Department of Wildlife found the elephant when it was sighted by a patrol boat, and ships were sent to the region.
The rescue took more than 12 hours and involved various efforts and a high level of collaboration. The elephant was initially contacted by wildlife officers and sCᴜʙᴀ divers to tie ropes to it so that the boats could gently carry it out to shallower waters.
Photographs taken by Navy and Department of Wildlife personnel show the elephant using its trunk as a snorkel and keeping its eyes below the water’s surface. Elephants are the ᴄʟᴏsᴇst land relatives of manatees and dugongs because they have unique lungs that enable them to withstand pressure changes above and below water. They are exceptionally well adapted to living at sea for a terrestrial mammal.
Although it is unknown how long the animal had been swimming, it is likely that it wouldn’t have been able to keep its trunk above the water for very long given how much effort it takes to stay afloat. The elephant would have ultimately worn out and fallen into the water. After being hauled back to land, the elephant was set free in the hopes that it would fully recover.
Source: https://dailylifeworld.com
