Even elephants, it seems, know HM the King is concerned about Thailand’s disastrous floods.
At a Nov. 24 field trip to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, 200 flood evacuees taking shelter at the Supreme Patriarch Center on Aging watched as 8-year-old pachyderm Yok painted a drawing of His Majesty and captioned it, “King worried about Thai floods” with its tusks.
The exhibition was practice for Nong Nooch’s planned Dec. 5 Father’s Day celebration, which will feature a parade of more than 40 elephants. It was also the tourist attraction’s way to ease the stress of those ousted from their homes in Bangkok and central Thailand by floodwaters.
Flood evacuees look on in amazement as Yok finishes his painting of His Majesty the King.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Director Kampol Tansanjja said flood victims have faced an immense amount of emotional and physical suffering and the garden wanted to do what it could to bring them happiness. The evacuees’ free visit to the park also featured other elephant performances.
Kampol said child evacuees were invited to return to the park Dec. 5 for a free visit with their fathers.
