Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wk0xd9w7vl1kjgv/VRP73264.mp4?dl=0
Zoo animals were rescued as rain flooded their enclosures in Thailand.
The flash flood swept over a 480,000-sqm safari park after a continuous downpour in Kanchanaburi province on October 22.
Zoo officials have already coordinated with rescue teams to transport the animals to a safer area. Meanwhile, a fence has been erected around the park’s crocodile pond to keep the reptiles from escaping. The water has also slightly swamped the cages of large animals like lions and tigers.
Safari Park owner Piyabutr Prasopsukchokmanee, 40, said: ‘This year’s flooding situation is the worst since the zoo opened. Fortunately, volunteers have already assisted us in transporting some animals.
‘I would like to appeal to the government agencies to send assistance for the animals inside this zoo.’
The water level in Bo Phloi district has been receding, but there is still high flooding in the village area and roads. Officials have put up barriers to prevent commuters from entering the area.
A more than one kilometre stretch of the district has been submerged under two-metre deep floodwaters. Residents have been evacuated to higher grounds while the situation is expected to return to normal within two days if there is no water flowing from uphill.
Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are in the middle of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October or November. Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain, and flash floods.
Thailand suffers from regular flash floods due to the chronic under-investment in its city infrastructure, with drains and sewers overwhelmed with water.