In a dramatic rescue mission in western India, an unfortunate camel found itself stuck in thick mud within the mangroves. This unique Kharai camel had sunk to its stomach, and the rescue team spent over an hour to free it from its predicament.

The concerned owner had spotted the trapped camel near his home in the village of Nimravand about 12 hours earlier, but it wasn’t until morning, when the tide was low, that they could attempt a rescue. In the early hours, the owner and four helpers ventured to the mangroves armed with a piece of rope.

After a strenuous effort and the distressed animal’s vocal protests, they successfully freed the camel. Despite its night spent in the mud, the camel was unharmed except for dehydration, and it was able to return to feeding in the nearby mangroves.

Photographer Ishan Raghumandan, 24, captured the heroic rescue effort. He described the scene as the camel, once freed, walked to more stable ground and began munching on vegetation.

The Kharai camel is a unique breed native to the area, known for its remarkable swimming abilities. It is the only camel that feeds on mangroves and spends three days in the watery forests before swimming back to the mainland to fill its hump with water. These camels can swim up to three kilometers into the sea in search of mangroves, their primary food source. However, their population is threatened due to the exploitation of mangroves, leading to malnutrition and vulnerability to diseases. Despite its ordeal, the rescued camel walked away tired but unharmed, heading back to the mangroves.

This dramatic rescue captured the incredible swimming abilities and resilience of the Kharai camel, a unique and endangered species in India. The efforts of the local community highlight the importance of preserving this extraordinary breed.