Return of a hero: Plai Sak Surin returned home after 22 years in Sri Lanka
Plai Sak Surin, a 29-year-old elephant, returned to his homeland to recover and rest after he was transferred to Sri Lanka, where he was injured during 22 years of religious parades during which few people cared about his health. Dubbed "Mutu Raja" by the Sri Lankans, Plai Sak Surin landed at Chiang Mai International Airport at 2:03 pm after a nearly five hour flight from Sri Lanka.
This return was a welcome moment for Plai Sak Surin and all who have followed his story. His name was known to all the activists who fight for animal rights in Sri Lanka. They reported on his poor conditions of detention and ill-treatment. In response to these appeals, the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment launched an investigation and decided to return the elephant home.
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Grand Comeback: Reception of Play Sak Surin in his home country
After boarding the elephant on a specially prepared truck, which took about an hour, thousands of people gathered to greet him exclaimed with joy as the truck left the airport. The officials carried out final checks and sprayed the cage with water to cool the elephant, as well as providing him with water to drink. The truck went to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang province, where Plai Sak Surin will receive the necessary treatment.
The arrival of Plai Sak Surin caused a wave of emotion among the public, who were looking forward to his return. People gathered around the truck, shouting words of encouragement and wishing the elephant a safe journey and a speedy recovery. The elephant's cage was decorated with a painting of the Thai and Sri Lankan flags, symbolizing the bond between the two countries.
It took about two hours to drive Play Sak Surin to the Elephant Conservation Center, a distance of about 80 km. The elephant was accompanied by government officials throughout the journey, including the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, who flew to Chiang Mai to receive the elephant and oversee the unloading operation from the Russian transport aircraft.
Drama, Exposure and Homecoming: The Story of Plai Sak Surin
Play Sak Surin's story came to light last May when Sri Lanka's Animal Rights and Environment Organization (RARE), an animal rights organization in Thailand, reported to the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment that Play Sak Surin was being abused. in Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Natural Resources requested the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct an investigation.
As a result of the investigation, the Ministry of Natural Resources sent a team of elephant experts to Sri Lanka to check on the condition of Plai Sak Surin and arrange for its return. Cooperation with the Thai Embassy in Sri Lanka made it possible to obtain a transport cage and other necessary equipment for transporting an elephant.
The operation itself to return Plai Sak Surin began at 10 pm local time in Sri Lanka. The elephant was placed in a special cage with a top grill to provide ventilation. The crane was used to lift the cage onto the truck and at 1:05 am the truck left the Dehiwala Zoo. At 3 am, a medical examination of Plai Sak Surin's condition was carried out in the cage.
After clearing customs, the cage with the elephant was loaded onto a transport plane between 4:50 am. About 40 officials collaborated to ensure safe transportation for Play Sak Surin on the second flight of his life - a flight home after 22 years in a cage at a zoo in another country.
Finally, the Minister of Natural Resources confirmed that Plai Sak Surin will be in quarantine for a month, during which time his blood will be checked regularly and his condition will be closely monitored. After a month-long quarantine, officials will discuss the possibility of a public visit to the elephant. The Minister assured that citizens will definitely be able to see the elephant at the Elephant Conservation Center. Plai Sak Surin's recovery is expected to take about two weeks, but veterinarians will continue to monitor his health.
Thailand has spent 19 million baht to bring back an elephant from Sri Lanka. The Minister of Natural Resources said that if people are worried about the fate of the other two Thai elephants living in a zoo in Sri Lanka, his ministry will work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring them back to Thailand. He also stated that Thailand would no longer donate elephants to other countries as a gesture of goodwill.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
