An elephant trapped in a farm well in Kuttikulama, Galenbinduwewa of Anuradhapura district in north Sri Lanka was rescued after 24 hours spent struggling in the water.

A herd of wild elephants was passing through a rural farming area, and one got separated and fell into a farm well in Anuradhapura district on January 12.

Noticing the elephant in the well, the residents raised an alarm but due to lack of facilities they couldn't rescue the elephant immediately, and informed forest officials.

The officials, with the help of residents, started an operation the next day and rescued the elephant using earth moving machines by January 13. The rescued elephant moved in to the forest, and residents burst crackers to scare it deeper in.