The 12-hour rescue mission was launched after the Navy spotted the elephant.
In a daring rescue, an elephant was pulled from the Indian Ocean after it was swept 10 miles out to sea by a strong curren, authorities said.
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Sailors from the island nation of Sri Lanka spent 12 hours getting the beast out of the water.
Elephants are known to be good swimmers but this one was exhausted by its ordeal, officials said.
A diver tied a rope around the elephant's body and it was towed to shallow waters.
Read: Baby Elephant Snuggles With Rescued Ostrich Who Thinks She's Part of the Herd
Researchers told The Guardian it is not unusual for elephants to be far from shore, but the mammals can't swim for long periods because it burns a vast amount of energy.
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