Thailand: cats and elephants threatened by monsoon floods
Thai authorities have begun evacuating the Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park, home to thousands of rescued animals, due to severe flooding.
Thai authorities have begun evacuating the Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park, home to thousands of rescued animals, due to severe flooding.
Flooding in northern Thailand forced many residents in and around the temple town of Chiang Mai to seek shelter outside their homes on Friday, with animals living nearby as well forced to seek higher ground as heavy rains lashed the region.
The world-famous tourist destination has a population of 115,000 and is the largest city in northern Thailand. Local authorities said the Ping River, which runs through the city, had reached a record level. Evacuations have begun in the Elephant Nature Park, home to about 3,000 rescued animals, including 125 elephants, 800 dogs, 2,500 cats, 200 rabbits and 200 cows.
The latest floods, fueled by monsoon rains, come just weeks after Typhoon Yagi flooded entire city districts in Thailand.
Footage posted online shows several animals in the Elephant Nature Park fleeing into the increasingly muddy waters.
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