The group of 17 includes seven pachyderms under 4 years old who were too small to flee when the rest of their nearly 90-strong herd escaped approaching floodwaters more than a month ago.

Elephant keeper Pat Parinnam said Monday the animals would drown if they tried to walk through the 6-foot-deep (2-meter-deep) waters.

The animals live at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, which provides shelter and employment for domesticated Thai elephants in the historic former capital city.