The gaur which fell into a farm well near Manapparai in Tiruchi district being lifted using a crane in the early hours on Sunday. | Photo Credit: HANDOUT more-in After a six-hour operation, a female Indian gaur that had fallen into an open farm well was rescued on Sunday morning. The sub adult animal, aged four to five years, that had strayed out of the adjoining reserve forest area into Vellaiyagoundanpatti village was tranquillised by a veterinarian before being lifted out at around 12.30 a.m. Acting on an alert from villagers, around 35 forest officials and a team of fire fighters embarked on the mission to rescue the gaur from the nearly 50-feet open well with about three feet of water. The animal remained active even after falling into the well. Since it could not be lifted out in a conscious state, it was tranquillised, said Sujatha, District Forest Officer (DFO), Tiruchi. Prior to commencing the rescue opertion, the forest officials pumped out the water from the well using a motor. A crane was brought to the spot to lift the animal. Temporary lighting facility was also arranged at the spot as the operation began in the late night hours. Veterinarian Dr. Ashok, from Sathyamangalam in Erode district, went inside the well up to some feet and took a vantage spot to tranquillise the animal using a dart gun. After the animal lost consciousness, the rescue teams descended using a ladder and covered the face of the animal and tied its legs. The belt was thereafter tied around the animal and it was carefully lifted using the crane. The animal which was in sedation was put on the tractor trailer and revived before it was released into the nearby Puthanatham Reserve Forest area. The rescue operation took about six hours for completion, Ms. Sujatha said adding that the animal had only a mild a scratch near its tail. Medicines were applied on the scratch marks before it was released into the reserve forest, she added.

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