Villagers save elephant stuck in flooded pit

Rescuers in eastern India have saved an elephant from drowning after it fell into a flooded pit.

Animal experts, working in concert with nearly an entire village, came to the aid of the distressed animal after it had become separated from its herd and fell into the muddy well.

The female elephant can be seen face down under the water struggling to keep itself afloat and breathing.

Eventually, it is loosely tied to a rope while volunteers try to pull the animal out of the well.

After two hours of fruitless attempts, the elephant is finally pulled out of the well with the villagers cheering as the rescuers move away from the mammal, apparently fearing for their safety.

The elephant, seemingly no worse for the ordeal, was soon on her way back to her herd.