July 2nd 2023.
Muthu Raja, known in his homeland as Sak Surin, is finally being returned home after two decades of mistreatment in Sri Lanka. His journey began when he was gifted to the South Asian country by the Thai royal family in 2001. The 29-year-old mammal was kept at Kande Viharaya, a Buddhist temple, and given honoured roles in religious processions.
However, the Thai authorities demanded he be returned home amidst claims of abuse. The diplomatic scuffle was settled when Muthu Raja was flown from the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane, costing $700,000. A six-person team accompanied him, including two veterinarians and four mahouts, or professional elephant trainers.
Muthu Raja was placed inside a specially-made container to make the journey more comfortable. His Sri Lankan name, Sak Surin, means "pearly king". He was accompanied by Sri Lankan monks chanting and animal rights activists praying for his safe return.
After a six-hour flight, Muthu Raja arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand safe and sound. He was given a quick drink using his trunk before being moved to the government's Thai Elephant Conservation Center in nearby Lampang where he will spend at least 30 days in quarantine.
He was moved from the temple to the National Zoological Garden in Dehiwala, a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka before his return. Animal rights activists had spent years campaigning for his release after claiming he suffered years of hard labour and abuse. He was also found to be underweight and had rough skin, thinning foot pads and a stiff left foreleg, which some of these wounds were allegedly inflicted with a bullhook, or ankus.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena expressed regret to his Thai counterpart, Prayut Chan-o-cha, about Muthu Raja's treatment. Animal rights activists organised a Buddhist blessing to see him off, finally sending him home after a three-year-long campaign.
Muthu Raja will now undergo hydrotherapy and medical treatment in Thailand. It remains to be seen if he will be returned to Sri Lanka after receiving treatment. In the meantime, animal rights activists will follow up to ensure he lives a chain-free bullhook-free life in Thailand.
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