Skip to main content

That’s another fine mess you've gotten me into! Mother elephant ends up stuck in the mud alongside her two children after trying to drag them out… before the whole family is rescued

A family of African elephants made a lucky escape after they became stuck in a muddy pool in Kenya.

Dr Kieran Avery, 34, was part of a small team that made the dramatic rescue of three elephants after they became stuck in the mud near a dam reservoir.

The veterinary surgeon and conservationist - who has previous experience of freeing elephants from similar situations - led the complicated rescue of the three animals after receiving a call from the community.

Pictured: A family of three elephants - a mother and two youngsters - managed to get themselves stuck in the mud in Kenya

Pictured: A family of three elephants - a mother and two youngsters - managed to get themselves stuck in the mud in Kenya

Conservationist Dr Kieran Avery, 34, from Kenya received a call from members of the local community about the elephants stuck in the mud (pictured) and set about rescuing them from their predicament

Conservationist Dr Kieran Avery, 34, from Kenya received a call from members of the local community about the elephants stuck in the mud and set about rescuing them from their predicament

Using a tractor (pictured in the background) and well places straps, Dr Avery said he and his team were able to free the elephants from their muddy prison. They likely got stuck in the mud when they stopped off at the water in a dam for a drink

Using a tractor (pictured in the background) and well places straps, Dr Avery said he and his team were able to free the elephants from their muddy prison. They likely got stuck in the mud when they stopped off at the water in a dam for a drink

The doctor said it took the team two hours to free the stuck elephants at Oldonyiro community conservancy, Isiolo County in Kenya, and required careful planning from the team.

Dr Avery said the process involves positioning the straps in a way that will allow the tractor to pull them out and ensuring that an elephant doesn't grab anyone with a trunk, which would result in serious injury to the team.

He added: 'We suspect that the mum or one of the youngsters fell in first, and then the others went in to see if they could help because they are so loyal to each other but ended up getting stuck as well. 

Pictured: Locals (seen in the background) gather around the family of elephants that got stuck in the mud in Kenya as a rescue plan is hatched to save the struggling and exhausted animals

Pictured: Locals (seen in the background) gather around the family of elephants that got stuck in the mud in Kenya as a rescue plan is hatched to save the struggling and exhausted animals

Pictured: Two of the elephants keep their head above the muddy water as locals keep their distance from the struggling animalsPictured: The three elephants lie in the muddy pool

It is believed that one of the two younger elephants would have fallen into the muddy pool first. Elephants are loyal creatures, and the other two are believed to have fallen in themselves when they tried to help the youngster escape 

The plan to save the elephants (pictured) was complicated by the fact that there was three of them, Dr Avery said. If the conservation team tried to save the beasts one at a time, the others would stop the rescuers from touching their companion

The plan to save the elephants was complicated by the fact that there was three of them, Dr Avery said. If the conservation team tried to save the beasts one at a time, the others would stop the rescuers from touching their companion

Because of the risk posed by saving the elephants (pictured) one at a time, the three elephants all had to be saved at the same time, Dr Avery said after the successful attempt

Because of the risk posed by saving the elephants one at a time, the three elephants all had to be saved at the same time, Dr Avery said after the successful attempt

'Luckily, none were injured - they were all just exhausted, in particular the middle aged one. It required a big effort to move them all at the same time because you can't move one at a time, the others will grab you.

'We had to be very coordinated and very efficient. They were all moved out at the same time and woken up at the same time. The smallest of the group stood up straight away, it was easy for it to stand up.

'The middle-aged one took ten minutes to stand up and the mum took even longer, like 20-25 minutes.' 

Pictured: Locals gather around the muddy pool in which three exhausted elephants had become trapped in Kenya

Pictured: Locals gather around the muddy pool in which three exhausted elephants had become trapped in Kenya

The muddy pool in which the elephants got stuck in was next to a dam reservoir (pictured in the background). The elephants (pictured) were likely going to the water's edge to drink when they got stuck in the mud

The muddy pool in which the elephants got stuck in was next to a dam reservoir (pictured in the background). The elephants were likely going to the water's edge to drink when they got stuck in the mud

Dr Avery said the rescue process involves carefully positioning straps in a way that will allow the tractor to pull the elephants (pictured) out and ensuring that the elephant doesn't grab someone with her trunk which would result in serious injury

Dr Avery said the rescue process involves carefully positioning straps in a way that will allow the tractor to pull the elephants out and ensuring that the elephant doesn't grab someone with her trunk which would result in serious injury

The rescue effort took the conservation team at Oldonyiro community conservancy, Isiolo County in Kenya two hours in total

The rescue effort took the conservation team at Oldonyiro community conservancy, Isiolo County in Kenya two hours in total

'The two younger ones walked off together and the mum followed about 15 minutes later. They would have met up very quickly, they can communicate over big distances.

'All in all, a really successful mission. One thing to really emphasise is the team effort side of this, from a whole host of organisations with different assets and skills.

'It is really positive that the communities who own the elephants report when they are stuck like this rather than just putting them down. Really shows the promise of community conservation here in Kenya.' 

Pictured: The three exhausted elephants lie on the ground after being pulled out of the muddy pool by a tractor

Pictured: The three exhausted elephants lie on the ground after being pulled out of the muddy pool by a tractor

Pictured: Marks in the sand showed where the elephants were dragged from the muddy pool. They were seen laying in the sunshine to regain their energy after struggling in the mud

Pictured: Marks in the sand showed where the elephants were dragged from the muddy pool. They were seen laying in the sunshine to regain their energy after struggling in the mud

Pictured: The two youngsters were the first to get up off the ground after being freed. They waiting by the mother elephant while she lay on the ground for longer

Pictured: The two youngsters were the first to get up off the ground after being freed. They waiting by the mother elephant while she lay on the ground for longer

After being rescued, the two younger elephants were seen happily trotting around the mother elephant while she lay on the ground to regain some of her energy

After being rescued, the two younger elephants were seen happily trotting around the mother elephant while she lay on the ground to regain some of her energy

Pictured: One of the straps used to free the elephants is shown on the ground while the mother elephant lays on the ground

Pictured: One of the straps used to free the elephants is shown on the ground while the mother elephant lays on the ground

Last month, a single female elephant got stuck in the mud in the same place in Kenya, with Dr Avery also coming to the rescue with his team using the same tried and tested methods.

As of 2021, African elephants are considered to be at heavy risk of extinction, and are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN ) Red List.

Habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as poaching for the illegal ivory trade are both major threats faced by the  rare creatures. 

Today, just two species make up the African elephant genus - the African bush elephant, and the smaller African forest elephant. Four other species of African elephants went extinct between the 18th and 20th centuries, with evidence of their existence found only through fossils. 

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o