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This cartoon depicting the Thai cave rescue is going viral in Thailand — and it has a hidden meaning

thai cave children soccer team

  • Two Thai artists have created a cartoon full of hidden symbols to depict the operation to rescue the stranded soccer team in the cave.
  • It depicts 13 wild boars swimming out of an underwater cave alongside dozens of other animals.
  • The animals represent the different nationalities involved in the operation.

Two Thai artists have created a cartoon, full of hidden symbols, to depict the ongoing efforts to rescue the Thai soccer team — and it has gone viral.

The cartoon, created by the artist Sisidea, has been shared thousands of times on Facebook. Even the Royal Thai Navy shared it.

It depicts 13 wild boards — representing the stranded soccer team of the same name — swimming out of a narrow underwater cave alongside dozens of other animals, which represent the countries involved in the rescue efforts. It even features SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk as Iron Man.

thailand cave rescue cartoon

Here's what each cartoon in the picture symbolizes:

  • Wild boars (there are 12 small ones, and one larger one): The stranded boys and their soccer coach
  • White elephant: Narongsak Osotthanakorn, the leader of the command center in charge of the rescue mission
  • White horse: All the heroes who have been involved in the mission
  • White seals: The Thai Navy SEALs who have been leading the rescue efforts
  • Frogs: The cave divers who have been helping
  • Blue lion: Rescuers from Britain and Belgium
  • Kangaroo: Rescuers from Australia
  • Panda: Rescuers from China
  • Crane: Rescuers from Japan
  • Moose: Rescuers from Sweden
  • Tiger: Rescuers from Myanmar
  • Brown elephant: Rescuers from Laos
  • Eagle: Rescuers from the US
  • Iron Man mask: Elon Musk, who has been tweeting his support for the rescue effort
  • Swallows: Climbers from Thailand
  • Dog: K9 unit at the scene
  • Dragon: The team drilling into the cave and pumping water out
  • Birds facing all the animals at the end of the cave: Journalists covering the rescue mission
  • Black crow among the birds: People who are criticizing the mission

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

A total of eight boys have been successfully rescued as of Monday evening, and are recovering in hospital. Four other boys and their soccer coach remain in the cave.

The sisters, who live in Bangkok, told Business Insider:

"This picture is to show how 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 have been flowing from many countries and specialists team so I am presenting all of them on the animation."

SEE ALSO: It looks like the 5 people still stuck in the Thai caves will have to wait until tomorrow for rescue

READ MORE: How divers rescued the first 4 boys from the cave in Thailand

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