COLOMBO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lanka Navy on Sunday saved two elephants that were swept out to deep sea inbetween Round Island and Foul Point in Trincomalee, in the east of the country, the navy said in a statement.
The rescue is the second of its kind after a team of naval officers earlier this month saved an elephant struggling to keep afloat after it was swept into the rough seas off the island's northern coast. The navy had carried out a 12-hour rescue operation to save the animal and bring it safely into the shallow waters.
After the two distressed jumbos were first noticed by an Inshore Patrol Craft on routine sea patrol on Sunday, a combined rescue mission was launched by the navy and the officials from the Department of Wildlife in Trincomalee to save the two wild elephants.
Responding to the situation, the navy augmented the rescue mission by deploying three more Fast Attack Craft on patrol and a team of navy divers. After being safely guided to the shore, the two elephants were subsequently released to the Foul Point jungle, the navy said.
In the earlier rescue mission, the navy said the jumbo had likely got swept into the sea while crossing the Kokkilai lagoon, a large stretch of water that lies between two areas of jungle.
