Sri Lanka Navy rescues elephant being washed out to sea

An elephant has avoided a watery death in Sri Lanka, with navy troops rescuing the animal after it was spotted being carried into the ocean by a strong current.

Sri Lankan navy troops attached to the Eastern Naval Command were going about their routine patrol earlier this week when they noticed the elephant being dragged out to sea, some 15 kilometres off the shore in the Kokkuthuduvai area in Kokilai.

The Navy dispatched a Fast Naval Patrol Craft and the Naval Diving Division.

The video shows navy officers swim alongside the elephant to attach a rope to the animal’s neck while a boat helps guide the elephant back to shore.

Wildlife Department officials assisted the navy personnel with the rescue, providing advice on how to approach the animal.

The elephant – named Alliya Pulmoddai – was returned to shore and handed over to wildlife officials.

Sri Lankan elephants are one of three recognised subspecies of the Asian elephant.

They have been listed as endangered since 1986 with the species pre-eminently threated by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation.