Fifteen elephants have been stranded at the Royal Elephant Kraal in Ayutthaya by the recent floods in Thailand.

The elephants, including seven mothers and their babies, are part of about 80 elephants evacuated from the kraal when the floods hit the ancient city.

The elephants who climbed atop the wall a week ago to escape the quickly rising water are in urgent need of fresh water and food. [Digital Journal]

Floods have so far ravaged homes and businesses in 52 of Thailand's 76 provinces. Ayutthaya which is 76 kilometers from Thailand's capital of Bangkok has been one of the hardest hit areas.

Most of the elephants have been moved to higher ground but the remaining 15 are now stuck since the water level has risen above two metres, making it too deep for them to swim out.

The 15 elephants who climbed atop the wall a week ago to escape the quickly rising water are in urgent need of fresh water and food. 

The Royal Elephant Kraal which housed over 100 elephants before the floods, was established 16 years ago. It runs many projects to conserve the highly endangered Asian Elephant.

Thai Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut assured on Sunday that Bangkok would be safe from flooding formerly expected on weekend as northern runoff from upstream has already passed Bangkok and drifted into sea.

However, the director-general warned that sea tide was forecasted to reach its peak again during Oct. 28-30. He therefore asked people not to demolish flood protection walls but to reinforce them for a certain period of time.

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