Indian forest officials rescued a wild elephant and her calf after they fell into an abandoned well near Sambalpur in eastern India.<br /><br />The mother and the baby elephant had fallen into the well at Jujumara block on the night of April 27. <br /><br />The next morning the local residents saw the mother elephant trying to climb out desperately while the calf clung to her in fear.<br /><br />After getting an alert from the villagers, the local forest officials rushed to the spot with a JCB earthmover and dug a path out of the well.<br /><br />The mother first climbed out of the well with some effort and stood nearby. <br /><br />Seeing her get out, the calf also scrambled up and both the animals soon returned to the forest to join their herd. <br /><br />Officials said the entire operation took a little over three hours.
