Thailand rescues nearly 100 elephants from floods

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand evacuated dozens of elephants from a popular tourist attraction Monday after they were threatened by floods that submerged homes and paralyzed transportation in parts of the country.

The rescue operation in Ayutthaya province, north of the capital, had 92 of the endangered beasts moved from a site known as Elephant Village, said manager Ittiporn Kaolamai.

He said five baby elephants and their mothers would be taken to an elevated part of the village but the rest would be marched 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) away to a different, drier location.

Thailand has several tourist attractions where visitors can feed and ride elephants, which are also used as beasts of burden in some rural areas.

Weekend downpours across central and northeastern Thailand had tapered off in certain areas by Monday but left a dozen provinces submerged under more than 3 feet (1 meter) of water and damaged 10 highways, officials said.

The State Railway of Thailand halted service on all lines that serve the North and Northeast on Sunday night because of flooded train tracks. Service was partly resumed Monday morning.

-- (c) Associated Press 2010-10-18

Must be bad as the elephant camps are high up from the river banks so must be up over 4 metres and that is a lot. The fact the canals and runoff to the river means the water would be abnormally high. Hope the pakkies are all okay.

Must be bad as the elephant camps are high up from the river banks so must be up over 4 metres and that is a lot. The fact the canals and runoff to the river means the water would be abnormally high. Hope the pakkies are all okay.

Elephants are strong swimmers ,so should be O.K.

I do hope none died.