The Thai government will hold discussions with Sri Lanka on 28th of October to repatriate two elephants that were originally gifted to Sri Lanka, amid growing concerns about their welfare and alleged mistreatment.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Suchart Chomklin announced via Facebook on October 23 that he will urgently travel to Sri Lanka to address the issue concerning the two elephants — Plai Pratu Pha and Plai Srinarong.
The issue was first raised last year by the Reclaim Thai Elephant group, whose coordinator, Yuwanuch Kiattiwong, and 50 members submitted a formal complaint to the MONRE over the elephants’ poor living conditions. The group alleged that the elephants had been forced to work excessively, constantly kept in chains, and subjected to physical abuse. They urged the government to bring the animals back to Thailand to ensure better welfare.
Suchart said that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other Thai agencies are closely monitoring the situation and have approved diplomatic efforts to coordinate with Sri Lankan authorities to repatriate the elephants. However, he cautioned that the process may take time.
A Thai delegation, including Suchart, relevant officials, and veterinarians, will travel to Sri Lanka to inspect the elephants’ health and living conditions and provide guidance to local caretakers on proper animal welfare standards.
The Director of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Attaphon Charoenchansa, confirmed that he will accompany the delegation. He noted that if negotiations are successful, the repatriation process will follow the same model used for the return of Plai Sak Surin — another elephant gifted to Sri Lanka and brought back to Thailand in 2023.
According to The Standard, Plai Pratu Pha, the first Thai elephant sent to Sri Lanka in 1979 at age 12, currently resides at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in Kandy. Plai Srinarong was sent in 2001 along with Plai Sak Surin and remains at an elephant shelter near the Kirivehera Temple in Kataragama.
