Thai Elephant Returns to Homeland for Treatment after Years of Neglect in Sri Lanka

After enduring years of abuse in a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple, a Thai elephant suffering from severe health issues has been repatriated to Thailand for medical attention. The elephant, gifted by Thailand to Sri Lanka over two decades ago, arrived in his home country on Sunday.

The male elephant, identified as Muthu Raja (Pearly King) in Sri Lanka and Sak Surin (Mighty Surin) in Thailand, was transported from Sri Lanka’s capital city to the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai using a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane.

Ensuring the elephant’s safety during the six-hour flight was a six-person crew, comprising two veterinarians and four mahouts – professional elephant handlers.

In order to safely transport the 9-foot-tall, 4-ton animal, a special container was constructed. Several mahouts traveled to Sri Lanka prior to the flight to help the elephant acclimate to the containment, preventing any panic during the transit to Thailand.

Upon his arrival in Chiang Mai, footage confirmed the elephant was awake and seemingly tranquil. Thai Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa confirmed at the airport that the elephant was in excellent condition upon landing. The minister also noted that the operation to bring the animal back home cost at least 19 million baht ($540,000).

The elephant’s transport to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in the nearby Lampang province was arranged via a flatbed trailer. There, the elephant will undergo a quarantine period of 30 days, followed by rehabilitation.

The Thai royal family gifted the elephant to Sri Lanka in 2001 when it was approximately 10 years old. He was among three elephants donated to the Sri Lankan government for training to carry religious relics, and was subsequently assigned to a Buddhist temple.

The Rally for Animal Rights and Environment group, an animal rights organization based in Sri Lanka, alleged in 2020 that the elephant’s health had deteriorated due to years of strenuous work and mistreatment. They demanded urgent medical attention and began a petition for his rescue. When the Sri Lankan government allegedly neglected their complaints, they urged for the elephant’s return to Thailand.

Following a preliminary investigation by the Thai Embassy in Sri Lanka in November 2022, Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that the elephant was living in subpar conditions and suffering from poor health. The ministry sought Sri Lanka’s consent to repatriate the elephant for medical treatment.

The elephant’s condition included underweight, rough skin, abscesses on both hips, worn foot pads, and a stiff left foreleg, making it challenging for him to move and stand. Before his transfer to Thailand, he received preliminary care at Sri Lanka’s National Zoological Garden, where he showed signs of improvement.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena expressed his regret over the elephant’s condition to his Thai counterpart during a visit to Thailand last month.

Thai authorities stated that the primary reason for repatriating the elephant was to provide medical care. His potential return to Sri Lanka will be discussed with the Colombo government. Last month, Thai Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa revealed plans to assess the health of other Thai elephants residing abroad during a press conference in Bangkok, mentioning that exporting Thai elephants has already been prohibited for conservation purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Elephant Repatriation

More about Elephant Repatriation

• Thailand’s Elephant Conservation
• Sri Lanka’s National Zoological Garden
• Animal Rights and Environmental Groups in Sri Lanka
• Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs