This is the moment a zookeeper pulls a massive stick out of a baby elephant’s trunk.

The incident took place at the DierenPark Amersfoort zoo, near Amersfoort, in the Dutch province of Utrecht and shows the 75-centimetre (2.4-foot) stick being removed from Yindi the elephant’s trunk.

The footage shows the zookeeper struggling to grab hold of the long stick using a pair of pliers while a colleague holds the elephant’s trunk still.

Eventually, the man manages to grab it with his tool and he removes it from the elephant’s trunk as his colleagues’ cheers turn to cries of surprise as they realise just how long and thick the stick was.

Newsflash obtained a statement from the DierenPark Amersfoort saying: “Whoops! Little elephant Yindi played a bit too enthusiastically and ended up getting a 75-centimetre branch stuck in her trunk.

“Elephants use their trunks to eat and drink, so it was very important to remove the branch as quickly as possible. After consulting with the team of our veterinarian, animal caretakers. And specialists from other parks, a plan of action devised.

“Our veterinarian administered a substance to Yindi to keep her calm but without feeling any pain. This is called ‘standing sedation’. Using, among other tools, a special pair of tongs crafted by the creative minds at TU Delft, they removed the branch from her trunk.

“Through the treatment and skilled work of our veterinarian, veterinary assistant, animal caretakers, and the assistance of Wellensiek Dierenartsen. Yindi was eventually freed from the ordeal. Yindi is doing just fine now!”