Villagers save baby elephant that tumbled into well

CHANTABURI PROVINCE, Thailand (APTN/TPB) - Villagers ran to the rescue of a baby elephant after it fell into a well during the early morning hours in eastern Thailand.

The one-year-old baby elephant was among a herd of about 40 wild elephants when it fell into a 9-foot-deep well and couldn't get out.

The herd arrived at the rubber plantation at about two a-m, apparently searching for food.

To make matters worse, the elephant's agitated mother got entangled with a nearby protective electric fence, got struck, and collapsed to the ground.

She quickly recovered from the shock.

Villagers were alerted by the terrified cries of the animals called in a mechanical digger to excavate the well.

Just before dawn, about three hours after it fell into the hole, the baby elephant finally made its escape.

It quickly re-joined its mother, and they both disappeared into the forest.