The donation spree has given its famed elephant hospital a reprieve.

On Friday, founder Soraida Salwala posted on Facebook that when she checked the foundation’s Kasikornbank account, she discovered transfers of over Bt20 million had been made since last Monday.

She said she had not yet checked the foundation’s Siam Commercial Bank account.

She revealed that the balance on Monday had been Bt1,380,354, but on Friday it had soared to Bt21,328,433.

“I was lost for words, and could not hold back my tears,” she wrote. I told Doctor [vet] Ke to tell all staff of the foundation that I thanked them. Because of their work, the people have mercy for us to continue our work. I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the people.”

The Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation runs the world’s first elephant hospital in Lampang province, which opened 25 years ago.

On Monday, Soraida announced that she had a health problem and that her foundation was in a financial crisis, so she had no choice but to close the hospital.

The foundation works in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organisations, and local company Elephant Parade. Many fear that if the elephant hospital closes, aged and sick mammals would face an uncertain future.

‘Financially in the red’

The foundation has won recognition for its campaigns for the rights of Asian elephants and preventing the mammals being kept in big cities such as Bangkok. It was responsible for the full-time care of disabled elephants Motala, Mocha and Pai Bobo.

Soraida said in her Facebook post on Monday that the foundation had posted a negative balance sheet for 11 years in a row, overspending by more than Bt2 million.

Parks Department chief Thanya Netithammakul said the National Elephant Institute, under the department’s supervision, was willing to lend support to Soraida and help her treat the elephants.

The institute had worked with the foundation and was ready to help it again, Thanya added.