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CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ind. — A rare piebald deer was rescued Thursday from a cave in southern Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

A driver reported almost hitting a deer that went across the road and out of sight Wednesday night in rural Crawford County, Indiana DNR said on Facebook.

The driver discovered that the deer, a piebald whitetail deer with a rare genetic abnormality, had fallen into a 50-foot deep cave in the woods not far from the road.

On Thursday night, Indiana Conservation Officers Neal Brewington, Robert Brewington, and Jim Hash rappelled into the cave and found that the deer was still alive.

The deer was sedated using a tranquilizer and hauled up out of the cave.

The deer was dazed but released at the scene with no visible injuries.

“We applaud the compassion and efforts of all those involved,” Indiana DNR said.