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Journalism of Courage
Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to swoop across Asia this year, has caused catastrophic flooding in northern Thailand in recent weeks. Thousands of homes have been impacted as the storm exacerbates the regular monsoon season. Amid this situation, four elephants were seen wading through floodwaters in a video that went popular on social media.
The video, shared by the BBC, captures a group of elephants navigating floodwaters after fleeing from the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. While three of the elephants move swiftly through the water, one lags behind, struggling to keep pace. According to Saengduean Chailert, the park’s founder, the slower elephant is blind, explaining why it had difficulty matching the others’ speed.
Instagram users have flocked to the comments section to comment on the situation. One user wrote, “I hope they’re ok, poor guys!!!” Another user commented,”We had no right to destroy this planet and it’s beautiful creations.” A third wrote, “Ugh was the last one okay I need to know.”
A longer version of the video can be found on X, where the other three elephants patiently wait for their blind companion to navigate the floodwaters and rejoin the group.
The elephant holds a special place as Thailand’s national animal. Historically, these magnificent creatures served as essential work animals, but today they face the threat of extinction. While elephants have attracted numerous tourists, growing concerns about their treatment have led to more of them being relocated to sanctuaries. According to Reuters, heavy flooding in northern Thailand since August has resulted in the tragic loss of 49 lives and displaced thousands of families.
