Fri Sep 12 10:22:20 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A female elephant fell into a water storage tank in an Adivasi village in Coonoor, India, on September 12, 2025. The Forest Department was alerted and decided to break open the stone tank to allow the elephant to escape. After a four-hour rescue operation, the elephant was freed and will be monitored for injuries.
**News Article:**
**Elephant Rescued After Falling into Water Tank in Coonoor Village**
**UDHAGAMANDALAM, INDIA – September 12, 2025** – A female elephant was successfully rescued by the Forest Department this morning after falling into a water storage tank in an Adivasi village near Coonoor, Nilgiris.
Local residents alerted authorities around 3:00 a.m. IST on Friday after discovering the animal trapped inside the stone tank. The tank, approximately 10 feet high and built above ground, presented a significant challenge to rescuers.
After assessing the situation, the Forest Department made the decision to carefully break open the sides of the tank to create an escape route for the distressed elephant. The rescue operation lasted for over four hours.
“The priority was the safety of the elephant,” stated a Forest Department official. “Breaking the tank was deemed the safest and most efficient way to free her.”
At approximately 7:30 a.m. IST, the elephant was successfully freed from the tank. A team from the Forest Department will continue to monitor the animal for the next few days to ensure it sustained no long-term injuries.
The incident highlights the ongoing interface between wildlife and human populations in the Nilgiris region and the dedicated work of the Forest Department in mitigating potential conflicts.
First Piper 