Elephant Helps Save Kids From Tsunami --- Carried Children To Safety

wcco.com ^ | 12/29/2004 | associated press

[bedolido]

PHUKET (AP) When Mother Nature unleashed its wrath, a member of the Animal Kingdom stepped in.

A British tourist says she saw an elephant save several children on a Thai beach when the killer waves struck.

The animal had been brought to a beach resort in Phuket to entertain children.

Laura Barnett says the elephant’s keeper hoisted kids up onto the animal’s back, and then walked them off to safety.

Barnett told her tale from London. She and her family escaped the disaster, but the beach where she was staying was destroyed.

[knittnmom]

I do believe you! That was a sincere thanks - not sarcasm!

[bedolido]

I know... just enjoy dramatics.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Hold on here. How much money did the elephant contribute when compared to it's gross national product? That's what **really** counts. Not these trivial **volunteer** acts that haven't been funneled through a govt. or the U.N... (/sarcasm)

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Would someone please give Rodney King a good solid beating over that one... :)

[longtermmemmory]

(s)Democrats in LA and Eastcoast think tanks will now demand ALL US day care centers be equiped with a rescue elephant. While it make be an added expense for the land locked states, if it saves just one child's life it will be worth it. (/s)

[KarlInOhio]

This was a neat story back when it was the elephant doing the saving, not just an elephant under the command of a keeper.

I think the "journalist" was just following the modern newspaper rule on SUVs.

[muawiyah]

Yes, that's a clue. The story definitely follows the "SUV swerved" standard.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

I think the "journalist" was just following the modern newspaper rule on SUVs.

Wouldn't the elephant have had to trample the people then drag them hundreds of feet to their death just to back over them and trample them a few more times all while letting of MAJOR quantities of mother Earth destroying emissions (big elephant farts)?

[villpeepon]

I have no idea who Laura Barnett is. That is beside the point. I grew up around animals, they have an extreme sensitivity to nature. It is a self survival mechanism. The elephant in question definetly knew danger was imminent. It was running for its life, and knew it. The elephants keeper is no hero! He simply went along for the ride.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"Laura Barnett says the elephant’s keeper hoisted kids up onto the animal’s back, and then walked them off to safety."

The animal was about the same as a truck in this case.
The keeper put the children on the back of the elephant.
Than the keeper led the elephant to safety with the children on the elephants back.

It seems plain to me.

Now if the elephant had put the children on its back with its trunk and then ran for high ground, I would agree with you.

[Ruthharries]

I am working on a new wildlife series and we want to trackdown Laura Barnett to interview her. Does anyone happen to know where she is or how to track her down?

If so please e-mail me at ruthharries@bigwavetv.com

Thanks

Ruth