A four-year-old male elephant that fell into a water tank in Rayaroothupathi in the Periyanaickenpalayam forest range of the Coimbatore district on Friday morning was rescued and released into the forest. The baby elephant joined its herd soon thereafter.

Forest Department officials said that a herd of five male and four female elephants had ventured out of the forest to drink water at the tank on a farmer’s land.

The tank measured 12 feet in depth and 15 feet in length and width.

After drinking water, only eight of the elephants could return to the forest as the calf had fallen into the tank. On receiving information from villagers, forest officials went to the spot with a team and an earthmover.

Using the earthmover, officials demolished a portion of the tank and created a makeshift ramp, climbing which the baby elephant reached the surface and joined its herd. Officials added that they had asked the farmer to construct steps when he reconstructed the damaged portion of the tank so that animals would be able to get back on to the surface, in case they fell into the tank accidentally.