In what could have been a tragedy, Thap Lan National Park rangers in Thailand came across six baby elephants stranded in a pit of mud.
Unable to scramble up the slippery sides, the elephants struggled and fell while trying to escape. The babies’ families and herd members circled the area, unwilling to leave the little ones.
Rescuers spent five hours digging a path large and stable enough for the babies to climb. Finally, the elephants were able to emerge from the pond and disappear into the jungle to reunite with their herd. As the last of the rescued babes retreated into the forest, they stopped and turned around to gaze on the rescuers. Whether she was simply acknowledging their presence or offering a silent thank you, we can only guess.
Elephants live close, social lives. Losing a member of the herd is not taken lightly and elephants are known to grieve. We can only imagine how devastating losing multiple calves would be. Though it is unknown how many hours the elephants spent in the pit before the rangers arrived, the concerned herd never abandoned the babies.

Asian elephant herd / Pixabay
Wild elephants were once abundant in Thailand and surrounding areas of Southeast Asia. But populations have plummeted due to their use in the logging and tourism industries. Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, it is estimated that only a few thousand wild elephants remain. Around 4,000 more are held captive.
Habitat loss also plays a huge role in the stress these animals face. Once mostly jungle, Thailand now supports cities, large swaths of agricultural land, and the roads and rail lines that connect these places. Wild elephants no longer have access to the land and food sources they once roamed. Interactions and altercations with humans are more and more common.

Elephant in chains / Pixabay
Progress has been made in the efforts to curtail the illegal trade in ivory, affecting elephants in Africa as well as Asia. The suffering of animals forced into servitude in Thailand is not as well known. You can help these animals by spreading the word not to take elephant rides. And you can share stories like this one to increase awareness of just how smart and sensitive these animals are.

Firmado!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Park Rangers!!
our family is grateful for the effort to save the exhausted baby elephants. now if someone could figure out a safe harmfree way to separate the elephants from the crop field’s this wpuld be marvelous.
Namaste🐦
I am wondering if anything has been done about the treatment of the sled dogs in Alaska. Something should be done about the abuse and neglect of those poor dogs!!
Thanks and love to the rangers who saved those previous babies.
Typo! Meant to say PRECIOUS babies.
Thanks and love to the rescuers who saved those previous babies.
A very big thank you & sharing.
Firmado!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for rescuing these Babies. THANK YOU. I do have a question for the Thailand Authorities though. IF THE ELEPHANTS ARE THE THAILAND’S TREASURED ANIMALS?? THEN HOW ON EARTH IN YOUR COUNTRY THESE ANIMALS ARE BEING ABUSED, TORMENTED, TORTURED SO HEINOUSLY CRUELLY ?? Does this makes any sense to you all? to say they are very precious to Thai people YET they are being cruelly abused every day. WHAT TYPE OF LAWS HAVE YOU TAKEN TO PROTECT THESE MAJESTIC ANIMALS FROM CRUEL PEOPLE?
THANK YOU to the wonderful Rescuers — God, we love you — job well done —- I hope muddy hole was filled so the babies don’t land up in it again.
I believe all elephants held in captivity (zoos, circuses, entertainment slavery etc. should be released. Elephants are intelligent, sensitive and sentient. Their exploitation by man for entertainment and profit is barbaric. The cruelty they suffer is horrific. Their families and lives are destroyed and their pain and mental anguish is beyond comprehension. When will mankind stop the insanity and start to protect our planet and it’s wildlife?
Thank you.
Thank you for saving the baby elephants! Save all elephants – Do not kill them for trade or use them for other cruel reasons. They belong in the wild with their families, or in a sanctuary.
Thank you for saving these babies!
Very glad to see that these baby elephants heeded to the sounds of their caretakers (the rangers) and got out of that muddy pound safely. Many thanks to the rangers for all their efforts. Perhaps some sort of barrier should be placed around that pond so that this won’t happen again.
Thank you to these baby elephants’ rescuers.
And as far as them turning around to gaze at their saviors, I do believe they knew these people helped them.
Elephants are highly intelligent. They knew.
God Bless these baby elephants and the dear souls who rescued them, saving their lives. Animals are sentient beings like we are. They have feelings and emotions and intelligence. Especially elephants. God bless them all.
God bless those who resued these baby elephants. Elephants are smart sentient beings. I believe that they were thanking them. 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘
Well Done! Keep up the work. Animal Neglect and Abuse is a grievous crime. God Bless these baby elephants and the dear souls who rescued them !!
Agree.