While out on a routine patrol, the Sri Lankan Navy found something that was definitely not routine. Approximately ten miles from the coast they spotted a massive creature in the water. As the crew approached it, they theorized what kind of thought to be extinct sea dweller it might be. Maybe the Loch Ness Monster has a long-lost cousin we still don’t know about!
Once they got closer, they clearly saw it was an exhausted elephant. Despite their large stature, elephants are surprisingly good swimmers. They can go for up to 30 miles if they so choose and uses their trunks as snorkels. They are even fairly buoyant as well in case they get tired of swimming.
Unfortunately for this elephant, who the crew later named Jumbo, he had been swimming for so long that he was starting to fatigue. When the sailors saw that Jumbo was in distress they immediately called in reinforcements. Another navy ship complete with wildlife experts was soon on the scene.
Even with their speedy arrival, Jumbo had already started to drift farther out to sea, time was of the essence. The team realized the elephant was far too big to be towed into any of the ships. So they decide to tow him onto the shore instead.
This was a long and tedious process since they had to ensure that Jumbo’s head and trunk stayed above water. Something that the elephant was already struggling to do. But after hours of towing, they got the elephant into shallow enough water that he could walk the rest of the way to the shore.
They theorized that Jumbo was washed away while crossing the Kokkilai lagoon, a large body of water that separates two sections of forest. How unexpected his journey was probably added to the fatigue. There is also no way to tell how long he had been out there before his rescuers found him.
In 2017, a pair of elephants were similarly rescued, also by the Sri Lankan navy.
Following his harrowing ordeal, the wildlife division on scene examined Jumbo. Aside from some cuts, bruises, and mild dehydration. The veterinary staff gave the elephant plenty of food and water while he rested. After several days to recover, Jumbo was given a clean bill of health and returned to the wild.
