Indore, Nov. 1 (ANI): Zoo authorities in Indore managed to rescue a cow elephant and its mahout after they were found trapped in a storm drain on Sunday.

The mahout had taken Champa, the adult cow elephant for the routine morning walk when both fell into the drain and were rescued after struggling for half an hour.

“The mahouts have been instructed to take the elephants for a walk in the morning and in the evening for at least an hour. The public enters the zoo in the morning at 9′o clock. So the mahouts were instructed to take the elephants before the visitors enter. But somehow, Champa (the cow elephant) while walking fell into the drain along with its mahout,” said Rajesh Kothari, Superintendent of Zoo, Indore.

India boasts of being the home to over 50 percent of Asiatic elephants, considered to be the most intelligent among animals.

Unfortunately, the number of elephants has dwindled over the recent years.

Massive deforestation, poaching and people encroaching upon forest corridors have forced elephants to move out of their natural habitats in search of food and water. (ANI)