In pictures: Elephant's muddy ordeal

Elephants in Thailand were pampered with feasts of fruit on Wednesday at a festival celebrating Thai Elephant Day. But while other elephants munched watermelons, papayas, guavas and pineapples, one unlucky animal had a muddy ordeal.

The elephant, Plai Khun Pan, fell into a muddy pond outside the capital Bangkok where it was trapped for more than 20 hours.

Local villagers finally sent for help and rescue workers spent up to three hours to free the elephant...

...even using a crane and earth-moving equipment to shift it from the sludge.

The elephant emerged unscathed but needed a good hosing down.

Meanwhile the other elephants were enjoying the party, with food donated by well-wishers.