Thailand has repatriated an ailing elephant, known as Muthu Raja or Sak Surin, to its native land after more than two decades of living in Sri Lanka, where allegations of abuse and poor living conditions have been raised. The 4-tonne, 9ft-tall male elephant returned to Chiang Mai province on Sunday after being flown from Sri Lanka’s capital to Thailand on a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane. A team of six, including two veterinarians and four mahouts, accompanied the elephant, which was transported in a special container to avoid panic. Video footage showed the elephant appearing calm and conscious upon arrival.
According to Thai Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, the elephant was in perfect condition upon landing, having been transported for approximately six hours. The elephant was one of three gifted to Sri Lanka’s government in 2001 as a carrier of religious relics and was placed in the care of a Buddhist temple. However, a Sri Lanka-based animal rights group alleged in 2020 that the elephant was in poor health due to years of hard labour and abuse, and needed urgent medical care.
After a preliminary investigation by the Thai Embassy in Sri Lanka, Thailand sought permission from the Sri Lankan government to bring the elephant back for treatment. The elephant was reportedly underweight, had rough skin, abscesses on both hips, thinning foot pads, and a stiff left foreleg, making it difficult for him to walk and stand. Following treatment at Sri Lanka’s National Zoological Garden, the elephant appeared healthier before its flight to Thailand.
Ailing Elephant Returns Home for Medical Care Amid Abuse Allegations
Thailand’s main concern was to provide medical care to the ailing elephant, and whether he will return to Sri Lanka remains a subject for discussion with the Colombo government. The Thai authorities have banned the export of Thai elephants for conservation reasons, and officials have begun surveying the health condition of other Thai elephants in foreign countries.
The repatriation of the ailing elephant has sparked concerns about the welfare of other Thai elephants living abroad, and officials hope that the successful repatriation and rehabilitation of Sak Surin will set a precedent for the care and treatment of similar cases in the future.
