COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — The Sri Lankan Navy got a jumbo-sized surprise last week when a patrol boat spotted an elephant stranded in the ocean an incredible 9 miles from the shore. <br /> <br />A mammoth rescue operation was launched last Tuesday when the elephant was found off Sri Lanka’s northeast coast. <br /> <br />The elephant was likely washed out to sea in a riptide when it was crossing a lagoon that separates two large areas of jungle, the Guardian reported, citing the Sri Lankan navy. <br /> <br />Wildlife officials and two more navy boats were quickly rushed to the area. <br /> <br />A team of divers tied ropes to the elephant and it was dragged gently toward the shore. <br /> <br />It took around 12 hours for the rescue operation to be completed. The elephant was then handed over to wildlife officials for inspection.
