Jorhat, Nov 21: In a dramatic rescue operation on Thursday, six elephants, including a calf, were freed after being trapped in a brick factory pit for over eight hours near the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Jorhat. The incident was first noticed by locals, who saw the elephants struggling to climb out of the deep pit.

The forest department quickly responded to the situation, dispatching a rescue team at around 4:30 a.m. A JCB machine was used to lift the elephants out of the pit, and fortunately, none of the animals suffered any injuries. “The rescue operation was carried out successfully, and all six elephants were safely brought out without any harm,” said Anshuman Bhuyan, Forest Ranger of the Mariai Range.

The elephants are believed to have wandered into human settlements in search of food and water, a common issue as their natural habitats face increasing encroachment. The incident underscores the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in the region.

The Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a variety of endangered species including the hoolock gibbon, is an area of rich biodiversity. Forest officials are working on measures to prevent such incidents in the future, urging local residents to be more vigilant in reporting wildlife sightings.

This rescue follows a recent wildlife initiative in Assam, where a tusker from a herd of 50 elephants was radio-collared in Baksa district as part of ongoing conservation efforts by the Assam Forest Department.