This aerial handout photo taken and released on October 3, 2024, by the Elephant Nature Park shows flood waters submerging the sanctuary in Thailand's northern Chiang Mai province. /CFP
Flooding in northern Thailand forced many residents of the city of Chiang Mai and its outskirts to seek safety on higher ground on Friday, with members of the animal world under similar threat.
Evacuations were underway at the Elephant Nature Park, which houses around 3,000 rescued animals, including 125 elephants, 800 dogs, 2,500 cats, 200 rabbits and 200 cows.
Flood waters caused by heavy rainfall swept through the park on Thursday.
This handout photo taken and released on October 3, 2024 by the Elephant Nature Park shows elephants standing in flood waters at the sanctuary in Thailand's northern Chiang Mai province. /CFP
Three elephants dash through the deluge with some ease but, according to the park, a fourth one is blind and was falling behind. It showed greater difficulty passing through wrecked fencing. Two other elephants appear to call out to it, to guide it to their sides.
Efforts to evacuate more animals were hampered by the high water, while more rain is forecast.
"It was the biggest evacuation we have ever done to save their lives, the water rose rapidly," said Saengduean "Lek" Chailert, founder of the Elephant Nature Park, in an interview with CNN, calling the floods the most severe the park has ever experienced.
(With input from AP)