Dumbo well rescue for young elephant

Video footage shows staff at the Phalaborwa Copper mine in South Africa’s Limpopo Province franticly pull the calf out of a small dam of water on February 16.

The visibly stressed elephant is eventually pulled out of the well by the heroic staff members.

It is believed the calf may have fallen into the well and left by its herd after it couldn’t escape.

Local journalist Mike Kendrick said: “A couple of people from Electrical Services at Phalaborwa Copper reported the stranded calf to the company's wildlife supervisor, Johann McDonald.

“They got the baby out of the water and loaded him onto the back of a pick-up truck. They tried to reintroduce him to the breeding herds which were still in the vicinity."

After failed attempts to reintroduce the elephant to a nearby herd, an emergency rescue team were called to save the calf, which weighed just over a 100kg.

Dr. Michelle Henley of Elephants Alive rushed Amanzi the elephant, whose name means water in Zulu, to The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC), an hour south of the mine, where he is now recovering.

Dr. Rogers’ team at the HESC took over and immediately began to rehydrate the elephant, who remains in critical care.

HESC: “Although Amanzi’s future is still unclear, we will do our utmost best to ensure his survival.”