Bangkok [Thailand], July 3: A Thai elephant returned to his home country on Sunday, after being away in Sri Lanka for over two decades. Activists claim the animal had suffered mistreatment.
The 29-year-old Muthu Raja, also known as SakSurin, spent 22 years abroad. Until last year, the 4-tonne elephant was kept at a Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, where he is believed to have suffered torture and neglect.
A six-person team, including two veterinarians and four mahouts, or professional elephant trainers, accompanied the elephant on the flight, which took about six hours.
A special container was built to hold the 275-centimeter- (9-foot-) tall pachyderm. Several mahouts went to Sri Lanka in advance to accustom the animal to being caged so he wouldn't panic during the trip to Thailand.
Video footage of his arrival in Chiang Mai showed the elephant conscious and appearing calm.
The elephant was rescued from the temple following a campaign by the Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) group. RARE has petitioned authorities to prosecute those who it blames for his condition.
The animal was in pain and covered in abscesses when it was extracted from the temple to a zoo at the Sri Lankan capital, according to the Zoo's chief veterinarian.
Animal rights groups say Muthu Raja was forced to work with a logging crew and that his handler inflicted some of the wounds.
The elephant is now due to undergo hydrotherapy in Thailand for further treatment.
RARE organised a Buddhist blessing on Friday to bid the animal farewell.
The elephant's $700,000-journey has strained ties between Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Thai authorities revealed the cost of the journey, without clarifying who would pay for it.
Sri Lanka-based wildlife environmentalist JagathGunawardana said that when a gift is taken back, it is bound to have a negative effect on both countries' ties.
Sri Lanka considers elephants sacred and protects them by law. However, that does not eliminate the possibility of animals experiencing abuse, which also a common problem in Thailand.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament last month that he had personally conveyed his country's regrets over the animal's condition to the Thai king.
Thailand has stopped sending its elephants abroad, and is currently checking the conditions of those already overseas, Thai Environment Minister VarawutSilpa-archa said.
Source: Qatar Tribune
