More than 30 rescue volunteers from various regions joined forces with veterinarians to evacuate animals—including dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, cows, and goats—to safe zones. This mission was part of the training course titled “Animal Rescue in Swiftwater & Flood Incidents”, which aims to enhance skills in safely evacuating animals during emergencies and strengthen the capacity of rescue teams and partner networks in disaster-prone areas, especially elephant camps that are frequently impacted by flash floods and seasonal monsoon surges.
The training introduced an innovative method of using elephants, dubbed “giant rescuers,” as transport vehicles to carry animals across strong currents. The operation utilised technical rope rescue techniques along with specialized equipment such as cages, boxes, and safety ropes.
The training initiative was developed in response to the severe floods of 2024 in the Mae Taeng river basin, which had devastating effects on both people and animals. Several elephant camps were damaged, and many elephants were lost to the violent floodwaters from the Elephant Nature Park. This tragedy prompted the development of a more structured emergency evacuation protocol for animals to enable faster and more effective disaster response.
Currently, a “Giant Rescue Unit” or “Elephant Rescue Unit” has been formally established to support crisis animal rescue operations in northern Thailand. This unit works in coordination with veterinary networks, rescue teams, and volunteer organizations to set up animal evacuation centers and establish systems for caring for injured or sick animals during emergencies. Efforts are also underway to expand collaboration with local networks to ensure rapid and safe disaster response across diverse scenarios.
