This is the joyous moment when five elephants were saved from an ab.an.doned goldmine in Malaysia.
The video shows a digger digging out a ramp before the three adults, juvenile and infant climb up it and disappear back into the jungle in Pekan yesterday.
Wildlife officials said they spent six hours rescuing the elephant family.
Footage reveals the five elephants huddled together in a hole with steep sides that are being carved out by a digger as rescue workers attempt to free them.
The officials then began shouting at the elephants, who were beginning to walk down the ramp.
The largest elephant, perhaps the group leader or matriarch, is the first to trip up the ramp, and the others scamper after her.
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) said they received the emergency call early in the morning and rushed to the scene.
Director Rozaidan Md Yasin said: ‘Four officers checking the scene found that the elephants could not come out because of the muddy area.
According to officers, the path was too steep for the elephants to flee.
‘We had to ask a neighboring mining corporation for their excavator to dig and clear space for the elephants.
‘The rescue operation lasted for six hours. It ended at 6 p.m., and the elephants were in good health. They went back to the jungle.’
