A team of volunteers joined forces to help a female elephant that had become trapped in a sewage drain at the Ugab Rest Camp in Namibia. The large animal had fallen into the narrow channel, measuring three feet by four feet, during the night and was unable to free herself.
The elephant was found by guests and staff the next day, leading to an urgent effort to assist the animal in distress. Volunteers quickly sprang into action, trying to keep the elephant cool and comfortable in the scorching Namibian heat by showering her with water and dust.
As time went on and assistance from others proved fruitless, the committed group made the decision to act on their own initiative. Equipped with hoses, shovels, and a strong sense of purpose, they began filling the drain with sand and rocks in a bid to slowly elevate the ground level and create a pathway for the trapped elephant to break free. Archie van der Merwe, the head of Laramon Tours who was present during the tense 11-hour ordeal, described in detail the team’s determined efforts.
“We couldn’t bear to see the poor animal suffering, so we took matters into our own hands and utilized the swimming pool pump at the rest camp to drain the knee-deep water,” he explained.
With determination and persistence, they carried on tirelessly. It took hours of pumping and filling, but eventually, the water level dropped enough for the elephant to bend her knees and make her way out of the ditch.
Remarkably, the elephant remained calm and patient throughout the rescue operation, never showing any signs of aggression towards her rescuers, as if she understood their efforts to help her.
After a long three hours of working together tirelessly, the moment everyone had been anxiously waiting for finally came. The elephant managed to gather her strength and hoist herself up on her hind legs, triumphantly escaping from the sewage drain. Mr. Van der Merwe couldn’t contain his happiness, remarking, “All the hard work was definitely worth it. After the rescue, everyone gathered at the swimming pool to relax, cool off, and raise a toast to celebrate the successful rescue mission.”
This touching rescue serves as a powerful testament to the strength of togetherness and kindness, showcasing the special connection between people and animals. The volunteers’ altruistic efforts truly saved a magnificent being in distress.
