THAILAND: Elephants march in Bangkok to raise donations in support of disaster relief in Japan

Record ID: 185213

  • Title: THAILAND: Elephants march in Bangkok to raise donations in support of disaster relief in Japan
  • Date: 21st March 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ORGANISER EWA NARKIEWICZ, SAYING: "Because that is a really terrible tragedy what happened there and the Japanese have been fantastic supporters of the elephants for years." ELEPHANT
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand, Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA3L24HG5CW2FMZ9NKLXAAPQNLD
  • Story Text: Elephants marched through Bangkok's tourist area on Monday (March 21) to raise money to help survivors in disaster-hit Japan.
    The parade of Thai folk dancers and six pachyderms surprised tourists on the bust touristy street of Khaosan road which is popular with backpacker for its cheap hotels and hostels.
    Many tourists flocked along the street to see the charm of the elephants to take a snapshot with the jumbos and donated some of their holiday money.
    "I like the way they put on an actual parade asking for money instead of, you know, going around trying to get it. At least you're doing something for it, you know. But yeah I know, it's a really good cause, really good cause," said Briton Stuart Cole.
    The elephants were adorned with body paint reading "Help Japan" and collected donations in a box they held in their trunks.
    They danced on the street to attract more tourists to donate more money.
    The campaign was organised by the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in an effort to help victims of the quake in Japan where almost 350,000 people are in shelters around the country after being evacuated.
    More than 8,600 people have been confirmed dead by Japan's National Police Agency, while 13,262 are reported missing.
    "Because that is a really terrible tragedy what happened there and the Japanese have been fantastic supporter the elephants for years," said the organiser Ewa Narkiewicz from Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal.
    Thailand donated 205 million baht (6.77 million U.S. dollars) and also sent at least 24 tons of aid supplies to Japan.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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