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Elephant freed from fishing net in reservoir in India

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Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Wildlife rescuers responded to a reservoir in India where an elephant became stranded in the water with its legs tangled in a fishing net.

The Forest Department said rescue crews responded to the Nugu reservoir, near Bandipur, when an elephant was seen standing in place in the water for more than three hours, sparking suspicions that the animal's legs were tangled in an illegal fishing net.

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The crews confirmed the elephant was caught in a net, but they couldn't get close enough to help because the animal would splash at boats that approached.

The elephant finally allowed the rescue boats to approach and they used large metal hooks attached to ropes to snare and drag the net until the elephant was freed.

The elephant then swam back to shore, officials said. The rescue took about eight hours to complete, they said.

Authorities said they are now investigating how the fishing net came to be cast in a restricted area.

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