{"id":36830,"date":"2024-10-04T02:34:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T06:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/about-100-rescued-elephants-escape-flash-floods-at-popular-sanctuary-in-northern-thailand\/04\/10\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-10-04T02:34:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T06:34:53","slug":"about-100-rescued-elephants-escape-flash-floods-at-popular-sanctuary-in-northern-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/about-100-rescued-elephants-escape-flash-floods-at-popular-sanctuary-in-northern-thailand\/04\/10\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"About 100 rescued elephants escape flash floods at popular sanctuary in northern Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Flash floods swept through a popular elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of about 100 elephants and trapping dozens of tourists, amid urgent pleas for help.<\/p>\n<p>Dramatic video and images from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elephantnaturepark.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Elephant Nature Park;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Elephant Nature Park<\/a> near the city of Chiang Mai showed dozens of elephants wading through belly-deep water to find safety on\u00a0higher ground.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was the biggest evacuation we have ever done to save their lives, the water rose rapidly,\u201d Saengduean \u201cLek\u201d Chailert, founder of Elephant Nature Park, told CNN, calling the floods the most severe the park has ever experienced.<\/p>\n<p>Video showed park staff who work with elephants, known as mahouts, shouting, \u201cGo go, keep going\u201d as they urged the huge pachyderms out of their pens and through the high floodwaters.<\/p>\n<p>While many of the animals found shelter on a nearby mountain overnight Thursday, come morning, Saengduean said the danger was far from over.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are some animals we could not evacuate yesterday. Thirteen adult elephants are still trapped in their quarters. They are panicking,\u201d said Saengduean.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 540px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-lightbox caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:56%\" data-lightbox-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/9.Rze3R7lVuj9bP1eiQo7w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTE5MjA7aD0xMDgw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cnn_articles_875\/1be29aafdd51fcc573a067fe8389744c\"><span class=\"caas-img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A view of the flooded elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. - Elephant Nature Park\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/_DKivWKef33Ay4U3nwPzqQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cnn_articles_875\/1be29aafdd51fcc573a067fe8389744c\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><button class=\"link caas-lightbox\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;elm:expand;itc:1\"><span class=\"openArrows icon\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\"><path d=\"M12.372 0.92C12.372 0.414 12.782 0.004 13.287 0.004L21 0L20.996 7.712C20.996 8.217 20.586 8.628 20.08 8.628C19.574 8.628 19.164 8.217 19.164 7.712V3.183L12.337 10.011L10.988 8.663L17.816 1.835H13.287C12.782 1.835 12.372 1.425 12.372 0.92ZM1.835 17.816L8.663 10.988L10.012 12.337L3.183 19.164H7.712C8.218 19.164 8.627 19.574 8.627 20.08C8.627 20.586 8.218 20.995 7.712 20.995L0 21L0.004 13.287C0.004 12.782 0.414 12.372 0.92 12.372C1.425 12.372 1.835 12.782 1.835 13.287V17.816Z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\">A view of the flooded elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. &#8211; Elephant Nature Park<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Northern Thailand has suffered severe flooding and landslides in recent weeks due to torrential rains brought by Typhoon Yagi, Asia\u2019s most powerful storm this year, which left dozens dead as it swept across the region in mid-September.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities in Chaing Mai, a popular tourist destination in Thailand, have\u00a0issued alerts for potential flooding as water levels along the Ping River, which runs through the city, reach dangerous levels.<\/p>\n<p>With extensive flooding around the park and waters still rising, the sanctuary\u2019s founder said they are facing the unwelcome prospect of having to evacuate the animals a second time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe situation is a lot worse than yesterday,\u201d she said, adding that she has requested urgent help from Thai authorities.<\/p>\n<p>A priority is getting hold of boats so the mahouts can stay with the remaining elephants at the park to keep them calm, she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe urgently need volunteers and animal cages as we must move the animals to the mountains due to the roads being completely cut off in both directions,\u201d the park said in a post on Facebook.<\/p>\n<p>About 30 foreign volunteers are also trapped at the sanctuary, including five Americans, some of whom have been working at the park for several weeks, Saengduean said.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/elephant-nature-park-chiang-mai\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Elephant Nature Park;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Elephant Nature Park<\/a> is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in the Chiang Mai countryside that has rescued more than 200 elephants from the tourism and logging industries since its inception in the 1990s. It also runs tours and volunteering programs that allow visitors to observe the animals or help with conservation work.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the elephants are blind or have physical injuries,\u00a0which have hindered their ability to escape and complicated evacuation efforts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmong the evacuated animals, there are many sick elephants, some barely walk. We had to help them to get to the foot of the mountain. We are in desperate need for help,\u201d Saengduean said.<\/p>\n<p>As well as elephants, the park is home to about 5,000 rescued animals including dogs, cats, horses, pigs and rabbits \u2013 some of which were evacuated in recent days after authorities issued a flood warning.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 540px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-lightbox caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:56%\" data-lightbox-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/kJR3SR4D26cEGCbaQt5f5Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTE5MjA7aD0xMDgw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cnn_articles_875\/e5d18a4c19253ac484e64451233642a1\"><span class=\"caas-img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"Rescue workers evacuate animals to higher ground at Elephant Nature Park after severe flooding caused the nearby river to overflow in Chiang Mai, Thailand. - Elephant Nature Park\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/5OnF6zyxLBJrKoqq3rrOIw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cnn_articles_875\/e5d18a4c19253ac484e64451233642a1\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rescue workers evacuate animals to higher ground at Elephant Nature Park after severe flooding caused the nearby river to overflow in Chiang Mai, Thailand. - Elephant Nature Park\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/5OnF6zyxLBJrKoqq3rrOIw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cnn_articles_875\/e5d18a4c19253ac484e64451233642a1\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><button class=\"link caas-lightbox\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;elm:expand;itc:1\"><span class=\"openArrows icon\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\"><path d=\"M12.372 0.92C12.372 0.414 12.782 0.004 13.287 0.004L21 0L20.996 7.712C20.996 8.217 20.586 8.628 20.08 8.628C19.574 8.628 19.164 8.217 19.164 7.712V3.183L12.337 10.011L10.988 8.663L17.816 1.835H13.287C12.782 1.835 12.372 1.425 12.372 0.92ZM1.835 17.816L8.663 10.988L10.012 12.337L3.183 19.164H7.712C8.218 19.164 8.627 19.574 8.627 20.08C8.627 20.586 8.218 20.995 7.712 20.995L0 21L0.004 13.287C0.004 12.782 0.414 12.372 0.92 12.372C1.425 12.372 1.835 12.782 1.835 13.287V17.816Z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\">Rescue workers evacuate animals to higher ground at Elephant Nature Park after severe flooding caused the nearby river to overflow in Chiang Mai, Thailand. &#8211; Elephant Nature Park<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The head of Thailand\u2019s Department of National Parks said that dozens of officers have been dispatched but have been unable to reach the park due to flooded roads, according to the state-run National Broadcasting Television. Atthapol Charoenchansa said they urgently need flat-bottomed boats and volunteers to help evacuate the remaining animals.<\/p>\n<p>Several villages in Chiang Mai\u2019s Mae Rim district have been inundated by water from upstream runoffs, local media reported Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Elephants, Thailand\u2019s national animal, have seen their wild population decline in recent decades due to threats from tourism, logging, poaching and human encroachment on elephant habitats.<\/p>\n<p>Experts estimate the wild elephant population in Thailand has dwindled to 3,000-4,000, a decline from more than 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.<\/p>\n<p>For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/register?source=external-feeds_iluminar&amp;cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo&amp;registration_email_campaign=https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:CNN.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">CNN.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/100-rescued-elephants-escape-flash-054348414.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Flash floods swept through a popular elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of about 100 elephants and trapping<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/about-100-rescued-elephants-escape-flash-floods-at-popular-sanctuary-in-northern-thailand\/04\/10\/2024\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36830"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36830"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36830\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}