Forest department officials rushed to the spot and broke the water tank using an earth mover and rescued the calf.

A herd of elephants (five male and four female elephants) were grazing in an agricultural field near Kovanur on early Friday morning. The farmers informed the Periyanaickenpalayam forest range officer C Palaniraja and team who rushed to the spot and tried to drive away the wild elephants to the reserve forest by busting crackers.

Meanwhile, one of the male elephants, aged about four, noticed a water tank and ran towards it. The calf fell into the water tank and couldn't climb out of it. The forest department officials reached the spot and tried to rescue the calf.

Palaniraja said that the water tank was constructed by a private firm owned the agricultural land. The tank was constructed for wild animals to serve as a watering hole, and the private firm had employed staff to fill the tank daily.

"We chased away the eight elephants by busting crackers and broke open the water tank using an earth mover. The four-year-old male calf was able to rejoin its herd," said Palaniraja.

A Periyasamy, district forest officer (incharge), Coimbatore forest division and team also reached the spot. "The calf fell into the water tank at around 5.30am. Forest department officials were swift in rescuing the calf,"he said.