Elephant Muthu Raja elephant cools off in a pond at an enclosure at Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo on June 23, 2023, ahead of his relocation to Thailand. – An ailing Thai elephant is being prepared for an arduous journey home from Sri Lanka after a diplomatic dispute between the two Asian nations over the creature’s alleged mistreatment (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)
Jun 26 2023
Thai authorities had gifted the 29 year old Muthu Raja also known back in its birthplace as Sak Surin to Sri Lanka in 2001.
But they demanded it back last year after allegations it was tortured and neglected while housed at a Buddhist temple in the island nation’s south.
The elephant was in pain and covered in abscesses when Sri Lanka’s government took back custody of it from the temple in November.
Most of its wounds have since healed while the elephant recuperates in a zoo on Colombo’s outskirts but damage to the animal’s foot still requires sophisticated hydrotherapy treatment.
“Arrangements have been made to fly the elephant back to Thailand for this type of therapy,” veterinarian Madusha Perera, who has been nursing the creature back to health since its rescue, told AFP on Friday.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament this month he had personally conveyed Colombo’s regret to the Thai king over the elephant’s alleged mistreatment.
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