Preparations continue for flying an ailing Thai elephant back from Sri Lanka

29 May 2023 05:17 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 5 Bookmark

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Three veterinarians, a mahout, two assistants and a specially-built cage will be flown to Sri Lanka on a chartered flight on July 1st to bring “Saksurin”, an ailing and aging Thai elephant, back home after about 21 years abroad.

According to Sittidet Mahasawangkul, a veterinary expert with Thailand’s Forest Industry Organisation, the mahout, Thongsuk Mali-ngam, will be flown to Sri Lanka to train the elephant on how to enter and exit the cage and to become familiar with it so it will not panic when it on a plane being flown back home. The flight will take about six hours.

The cage is strong and is enclosed on all sides. The elephant will stand throughout the flight and no sedative will be administered, to avoid any side effects, said Sittidet.

Thongsuk will be with the elephant throughout the journey to keep it calm and to provide food and water, he said, adding that this mission is quite challenging, but due to Thongsuk spending about six months with the elephant in Sri Lanka, he is confident that the journey will go smoothly.

Upon arrival at Chiang Mai airport, Saksurin will be trucked to the elephant hospital in Lampang, which has a spacious area in which the elephant can roam in a natural environment, unlike the limited space it has had for the past 21 years in Sri Lanka, said the vet.

He believes that Saksurin will enjoy a happy old age in Lampang.

Prasert Sornsathapornkul, chief of the Wildlife and Plants Conservation Division, said that the total cost of repatriating Saksurin is estimated to be about 24.7 million baht and a special budget has been sought from the Budget Bureau and its Central Fund.

Comments - 5

Sri Lankans are cruel and dishonour gifts Monday, 29 May 2023 05:59 PM

After all the talk about wild elephant troubles for farmers using up wild elephant habitats, how can an elephant in captivity possibly be happy. Sri Lankan beliefs are to parade elephants to suffer for processions/perahara. Utterly sinful and begetting of vast Karma. Theravada Thais are clearly more sensitive to elephant suffering compared to mahouts here.

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Roshan Monday, 29 May 2023 06:51 PM

Thank you very much. I have no other words.

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Goat Tuesday, 30 May 2023 05:29 AM

Wow...awesome Thailand.

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Punchi Tuesday, 30 May 2023 07:17 AM

We are incapable of looking after our citizens including our minorities and even animals. Thank god the civilised Thais are welcoming back one of their own to give deserving last stage care. All countries be mindful don’t gift us anything that needs food when we can’t feed ourselves

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‘ The Lansi Burgher Gent ‘ Friday, 02 June 2023 12:33 PM

An honourable deed from the Thai King, their government and it’s people in taking back this innocent elephant, gifted to this damn cursed country, only to be severely abused and mistreated by the imbeciles who were put to care for her. Such a sad state of affairs indeed. Being a Theravada Buddhist country, we should uphold the tenants that Gautama Buddha bestowed upon us - one of it being to care and be compassionate to our animals, whether they be wild or domesticated. The treatment of our dogs, stray or otherwise, our elephants which are hunted for their tusks, killed brutally using ‘Hakka Pattas’ and other sadistic methods go beyond belief. I trust our President Ranil and other higher ups seriously look into the welfare of our dogs and elephants which are severely affected by inhumane treatment and practices around the country. Our Buddhist clergymen and respected Theros, should actively use this moment to put an end to such shame that has been brought upon our Buddhist country.

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