Two elephants have tragically died after a sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand was flooded with waters reaching nearly five meters high. Fah Sai and Ploy Thong were swept away by the floodwaters as rescuers tried to evacuate the animals from the shelter. Their bodies were later discovered about five kilometers downstream, surrounded by debris. Founder of the Save Elephant Foundation, Sangduean Chailert, described Fah Sai as playful and strong in swimming, while Ploy Thong, who was 40 years old and blind, found it difficult to navigate the waters due to her condition.
Chailert rescued Ploy Thong when she was just three years old from being a street-begging elephant. Both elephants were buried near where they were found, with pink trumpet trees planted as a symbol to remember them. Chiang Mai experienced severe flooding over the weekend after heavy rainfall caused the main river to burst its banks. More than 100 elephants and thousands of other abandoned, sick, and disabled animals lived at the sanctuary.
In response to the flooding, elephants were also utilized to help relief volunteers reach residents who were cut off by the severe flooding in Chiang Mai. Ten animal shelters were flooded in the city, leading to the evacuation of elephants and other animals from several sanctuaries. The loss of Fah Sai and Ploy Thong is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of the floods on wildlife and the efforts being made to save them.
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