Colombo, July 17 (Daily Mirror) - Muthu Raja, the Thai elephant gifted to Sri Lanka repatriated to his home country for medical treatment a year ago, is on gradual recovery of his overall health - inflammation cured and gait adjustment being done - an official said.

Then Thai ambassador in Sri Lanka Poj Harnpol who is now retired and back in Thailand told Daily Mirror that the tusker had swollen abscess with oozing pus on both sides of the hindquarter indicating inflammation which could eventually turn serious, and abnormal gait due to unbent and stiff left foreleg which could render the elephant crippled if not given due corrective therapy.

He said regular wound dressing and abscess draining have brought about complete cure of the inflammation on both sides of the pelvic, but more delicate treatment involves the gait adjustment.

After preliminary physical and radiographic observations, both active and passive exercises were retained to help Muthu Raja walk normally, according to the former Thai envoy.