BANGKOK (AP) — Flooding in northern Thailand on Friday forced many residents of the city of Chiang Mai and its suburbs to seek refuge on higher ground, with members of the animal world facing a similar threat.
Evacuations were underway in the Elephant Nature Park, which is home to around 3,000 rescued animals, including 125 elephants, 800 dogs, 2,500 cats, 200 rabbits and 200 cows.
Floodwaters caused by heavy rain swept through the park on Thursday.
Heavy seasonal monsoon rains and the effects of Typhoon Yagi combined to cause severe flooding in many parts of Thailand, with the northern region particularly hard hit.
The video posted online by the park vividly illustrates that caring and compassion are not just human traits.
The video shows several of the park’s resident elephants fleeing through muddy, rising water to less flooded ground.
Three of them crossed the flood with some ease but, according to the park, a fourth is blind and falling behind. He showed more difficulty crossing destroyed fences.
His peers seem to call him, to guide him alongside them.
Efforts to evacuate more animals have been hampered by rising waters, with more rain forecast.
