A highly-symbolic cartoon that depicts the scale of the efforts to rescue the Thai football team trapped in a cave has been making the rounds online.

It is created by two Thai artists, Sisidea.

Aruni Aunhawarakorn and Jantima Manasviyoungkul, the sisters behind Sisidea, said they thought of creating the graphic when they first heard the football team was missing.

But they only began illustrating when reports of the first successful rescue emerged on Sunday.

The sisters live in Bangkok.

They have told media: "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. Tonnes of kindness has been flowing from many countries and specialist teams, so I am presenting all of them on the animation."

So far, even the Thai Navy Seal has shared it.

Here's what each part of the cartoon symbolises:

• Wild boars -- 12 small ones and one larger one: The stranded boys and their soccer coach.

• White elephant: Narongsak Osottanakorn, 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: A 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 criticising the mission.

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