The Thai government is still looking for a way to bring back SaK Surin, one of the three elephants that Thailand gifted to Sri Lanka back in 2001, for treatment after an animal rights organization reported last year that the pachyderm has been mistreated by his new handlers, The Bangkok Post reported today (April 24).
According to Minister for Environment and Natural Resources Varawut Silpa-achra, the government is aware of Sakuri’s plight, but transporting the elephant back to Thailand is proving difficult due to its size and the nature of its injuries.
Initially, the government planned to send a C-130 transport plane to bring the elephant, but abandoned the idea when they found the enclosure did not fit in the cargo hold of the aircraft. The government was considering sending a ship, but that too was stalled since the journey takes two weeks.
However, the government is planning its repatriation with the intervention of the Thai Foreign Ministry.
Till recently, the elephant was living in Kande Viharaya, Aluthgama, with chain injuries.
