CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Two elephants have drowned at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai’s Mae Taeng district following severe flooding that has swept through the area. Rescue efforts are ongoing to locate animals stranded in rising waters and fast-moving currents. The park, which houses 126 elephants, reported that the deceased animals were swept away by floodwaters. One has been identified as a female elephant named Phang Fah Sai, while the other is believed to be an elephant with a disabled leg.
Park staff began evacuating the elephants to higher ground when flood warnings were issued on October 3, but the rapidly rising waters submerged even elevated areas. The flooding has severely impacted the entire park, with water levels reaching over three meters, breaching the fences of the enclosures, and nearly reaching the roofs of buildings.
Helicopters from Wing 41 of the Royal Thai Air Force have joined the search, using infrared cameras to locate missing animals. The aerial team detected three elephants about one kilometer from the camp and spotted another three sheltering on a nearby mountain. The coordinates were shared with mahouts on the ground to aid in locating the stranded animals. Rescue teams from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Royal Forest Department, and the National Elephant Institute are also on-site providing assistance.
Efforts continue to move the remaining animals to safety. In addition to the elephants, several buffalo, goats, dogs, and cats have been successfully evacuated. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported that the majority of the park’s animals have been rescued, while teams are still working to secure those still missing. (NNT)
