When the cave crisis began and the search for the 12 boys and their football coach commenced, Anukoon Sorn-ek was one of the first persons to share basic information about Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai, where the victims are still trapped. Anukoon, a nature explorer and professional outdoor guide, went into the cave several years ago to map its system in the initial phase to develop it as a tourist attraction.
"A cave is like a drawer," he said. "You close it and once you open it again, everything remains exactly the same inside. Nature keeps everything intact in a cave. Time stops in a cave."
As the crisis is still unfolding, an international coalition of rescuers are working non-stop to bring the 13 people out of Tham Luang Cave, where they have been trapped for over two weeks. And while Thai rescuers, soldiers and volunteers form the backbone of the operation, it's also clear that our geological knowledge about caves in general is limited. The information used in the rescue operation is mostly from previous explorations made by foreign geologists, as Thai cave experts are rare.
According to Office of Natural Resource Conservation, only 300 caves in Thailand have been explored and mapped by Thai explorers, and over a thousand more remain uncharted.
Anukoon, however, believes that the number of caves in Thailand is as high as over 30,000, according to the number from foreign cave explorers.
Anukoon said cave exploration is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's necessary to chart our geological terrain. But since a cave environment is delicate, explorers need to be careful not to disturb the balance.
Cave tourism, in general, should be encouraged because it can inspire people to appreciate the wonder of nature, said Anukoon. But access has to be regulated to ensure conservation -- and in the current case, safety.
Now that the 13 members of Chiang Rai province's Wild Boars football team have been discovered in a cramped but dry chamber in Tham Luang cave, extracting them will call for an equally difficult rescue plan that consists of the least amount of risk on their fragile physical and emotional state.
"Judging from what I saw of their physical condition in the coverage, coupled with the knowledge I have of this cave, it is my hope that people involved in this rescue mission will be careful and not rush to get them out. The terrain is perilous, and the monsoon rains are no help," said Anukoon.
"The rescue workers cannot afford to be complacent because they are up against nature itself, which is never a promising scenario."
Anukoon, who shared one of the first maps since the crisis began, said it is difficult to determine just which method should be used to bring them back home alive as there are no precedents to follow.
"Much has been discussed in the media about getting the boys to scuba dive to safety. However, this is believed to be fraught with risks. Here we have to keep in mind that equipment for grown ups and children are vastly different, we cannot assume that an adult scuba mask can be adjusted to fit a child," he said.
"In my estimation this will be a lengthy ordeal."
When Anukoon was exploring the cave, he said his team encountered major floods near the entrance as well, which forced them to brave deeper before they found a section with a higher ceiling. This signifies the risky terrain of Tham Luang cave -- or any cave, he said.
Sharing his take on the rescue mission, Anukoon said that he has advocated all along the need to balance the inlet and outlet of the rain water so they balance and the water does not rise in the cave. It seems basic, but that is what needs to be done. However, due to the complexity of the cave it is not easy.
In the initial stages of the search, he said, the strategy was to find know-how on the hydrological nature of the area to maximise water drainage from the cave. He said back then it was determined rate of natural water outflow from the cave system was just 5m³ per minute, while the water inflow to the cave from rainwater over the mountain was as high as 25m³ per minute.
"The point is to keep the balance of the coming and going rainwater, however, it is not always easy because we are up against nature. That is why we need to have a backup plan in place," he said.
Anukoon believes that the awareness to follow rules and an education in geography are of great importance to prevent future incidents.
He said this could start with the media, who are responsible for reporting news and educating the public about these matters.
"The media should do their homework prior to covering such events. Don't just wait for experts to inform you. Basic knowledge of caves is pivotal to the direction such news stories should take," he said.
"The media can play a role in motivating the public to learn more about geography, about nature and caves, so they can better understand their boundaries when they are out in natural environment."
On his take on caves in Thailand, Anukoon said: "Caves that are too difficult to navigate should be closed to the public. If we know that such caves are dangerous to trek why open people to unnecessary danger? Researchers who have navigated such caves keep their work a secret to the public because of the fear that curiosity would get the better of some cave explorers and so put them in undue risk.
"Caves that are open to the public are safe to explore as long as you do so when you are allowed. If the sign stipulates that a particular cave is closed to the public due to the rainy season, or for other reasons, one has to obey regulations."
