In Chiang Mai, a tourist region in northern Thailand, two elephants drowned during flash floods. The Elephant Nature Park sanctuary, which is home to more than a hundred pachyderms, is particularly affected.
For several weeks, northern Thailand has been ravaged by devastating floods. The passage of Typhoon Yagi in mid-September, combined with torrential rains, worsened the situation.
The bad weather forced local authorities to evacuate tourists and close businesses in downtown Chiang Mai, a popular destination for visitors.
A rescue operation for elephants
On Friday, around a hundred volunteers and employees launched a vast rescue operation to relocate 117 elephants threatened by flooding in the Elephant Nature Park sanctuary, located near Chiang Mai.
According to a shelter official, 126 elephants live in the park, alongside around 5,000 other animals, including cats, dogs, cows, pigs and rabbits.
Footage released by the park showed elephants struggling in water reaching their bellies, while volunteers tried to shelter other animals, such as cats, in makeshift cages.
Critical conditions in the region
Floods in northern Thailand are currently affecting more than 32,000 households across 18 provinces. In Chiang Mai, the Ping River reached a “critical” level on Thursday, prompting emergency evacuations. The Elephant Nature Park sanctuary, one of the largest elephant refuges in the country, is particularly vulnerable to these floods.
Saengduean Chailert, the center’s director, expressed her despair on social media, describing a dire situation: “The floods are worse than before. The entire region is flooded. Now we have nowhere to go“, she said, calling for “urgent help” for the animals and park staff.
Rescue efforts continue to relocate the animals left behind, while the situation remains tense and further downpours are expected in the coming days.
Thailand Floods animals elephants
