Wildlife officials in Kerala, India, rescued a baby elephant that fell into a ditch and got trapped. Watch as the family of wild elephants nervously waits on the other side of the river while locals use a backhoe to try to free the baby.

When the family is once again reunited, two of the elephants raise their trunks to the crowd in a gesture many are interpreting as a ‘thank you’. The elephants repeat the gesture for a second time, and receive an ovation from the touched crowd.