In an effort to raise awareness about conserving and caring for the giant mammal, the Thai Government, has recently reinstated the elephant as the national animal.

As part of the annual Surin Elephant Roundup, an elephant dunks a basketball during a friendly match in Surin Province. This popular tourist event is also an homage to the glory days of the elephants that have influenced Thai life for centuries. Thousands of human spectators watched the jumbo athletes, guided by human trainers, play basketball, soccer and other games in a display of dexterity, intelligence and obedience.
                                                         (Source: St. Petersburg Times, 18.11.01)

Seismometers have been installed in the Virgin Islands. This is to monitor earthquakes in a move to be on the lookout for tsunamis (tidal waves). This has come about as a result of a series of earthquakes in that area of the Caribbean around mid-October. That naturally caused concern because on November 18, 1867 two earthquakes struck within minutes of each other. That caused tsunamis leading to loss of lives and damage to properties.

The SRU issued a statement saying that although the possibility that a tsunami could have been generated by the recent earthquakes, the main shock had passed.