Thailand won’t send back ‘Muthu Raja’- Minister

Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has ruled out the possibility of sending back ‘Muthu Raja’ (Sak Surin) now under the patronage of the Thai King, news agencies reported yesterday (05)

Muthu Raja, who arrived in Thailand on Sunday, quickly became familiar with his new environment, despite the fact that he had lived in Sri Lanka for 22 years.

Commenting on calls from the Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy for the Thai government to return the elephant, once it fully recovers, Varawut said the matter was not even open for discussion.

“Sak Surin is now under the patronage of the King, so that is out of the question,” Varawut said.

Muthu Raja is currently in quarantine for 30 days, at the elephant conservation centre in Hang Chat district of Lampang province. The elephant seems to be in a good mood, shaking his head and enjoying his food.

After the quarantine period, vets will conduct more thorough checks on him. Initial examinations show that Muthu Raja is suffering from a cataract in the right eye, its front left leg cannot bend, has infected wounds on his hips and has problems with his nails and the soles of all four feet.

Varawut also mentioned two other Thai elephants donated to Sri Lanka, Sri Narong and Pratupa, which remain there. He said it seems that Sri Lanka is capable of taking care of them and they are apparently in good health, though one of them has suffered minor injuries.