The super cute cartoon paying tribute to Thai cave rescuers

THERE’S a kangaroo representing Australia, and a host of other hidden meanings in a Thai cartoon tribute which has gone viral.

A TOUCHING cartoon tribute recognising the supreme international rescue effort taking place to rescue 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach from a waterlogged cave has gone viral.

The tribute, posted on the Thai Navy SEAL Facebook page, amid news eight of the boys had now been freed, depicts a series of animals in the flooded cave, each symbolising the nationalities of those involved in the rescue effort.

Among the images is a kangaroo, representing the 19 Australians involved in the rescue.

At the heart of the cartoon are 13 boars, which symbolise the members of the football team — whose team name is Wild Boars — and their coach (a slightly larger boar) who are the focus of the mammoth rescue effort.

The cartoon created by two Thai artists symbolises “taking the boar home”, according to an English translation of the post.

The other animals featured in the cartoon all represent those with a role in the rescue.

The blue-capped elephant is Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn, who has been recognisable as the marathon rescue effort unfolded by his blue cap and bright yellow scarf.

Elephants are also the symbol of Chiang Rai — the seal of the province features a white elephant. Legend has it the province’s founder, King Mengrai, did so because his elephant liked the place.

The seals in the cartoon represent, obviously, the Navy SEAL divers involved in the effort, according to the translation.

The frogs are the “all world class” divers in the cave.

The work even features Elon Musk, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO, who is depicted via an Iron Man mask.

Other animals represent the following nationalities and roles in the rescue:

Lion — rescuers from the United Kingdom

Panda — the Chinese members of the team

Crane — rescuers from Japan (the post also acknowledges the unfolding Japanese flood disaster)

Moose — the Swedish team

Eagle — rescuers from USA

Tiger — rescuers from Myanmar

Brown elephant — rescuers from Laos

Dog — rescue teams including the K9 (dog) unit

Swallows — climber from Thailand who have scoured the area above the caves in hope of finding an entrance

Birds — media covering the story at the mouth of the cave

Black crow — those criticising the mission

The dragon depicted in the left of the cartoon is understood to represent the water-pumping team.

Finally, the white horse depicted in the cartoon salutes all those participating in the rescue effort who were “riding the white horse to help us”.

The post has been viewed more than 200,000 times since being shared by the Thai Navy SEAL site, and shared more than 50,000 times.

The artists, Aruni Aunhawarakorn and Jantima Manasviyoungkul, the sisters behind Sisidea, said they thought of creating the graphic when they heard the soccer team was missing, but they didn’t put pen to paper until reports of the first successful rescue on Sunday.

The sisters, who live in Bangkok, told Business Insider: “This picture is to show appreciation of the Thai people to the collaborations from many people around the world.

“These 13 footballers are represented as the little wild boars. Tons of kindness has been flowing from many countries and specialist teams, so I am presenting all of them on the animation.”