PUBLISHED : 25 Oct 2025 at 01:01
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Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has approved a plan for Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin to visit Sri Lanka to negotiate the return of two Thai elephants due to health concerns.
Mr Suchart announced via Facebook yesterday that he will travel to the South Asian country to oversee efforts to bring the two elephants, Pratu Pha and Sri Narong, back to Thailand, adding that Mr Anutin has approved diplomatic coordination between all relevant agencies to facilitate their return.
According to Mr Suchart, he will be accompanied by the permanent secretary of his ministry, the director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and a team of veterinarians.
The delegation will examine the elephants’ health, assess their living conditions, and discuss their care with Sri Lankan authorities before bringing them back to Thailand.
Attempts to return Thai elephants to their home country have drawn public attention following the successful repatriation of Sak Surin, a Thai elephant who lived in Sri Lanka for 22 years and returned home for medical treatment in 2023.
Reports over the past two months revealed that Sri Narong and Pratu Pha, both gifted to Sri Lanka as symbols of friendship, are now in poor health after years of ceremonial labour.
Sri Narong, sent alongside Sak Surin in 2001, resides at Kelaniya Temple in Ratnapura, while Pratu Pha, sent earlier in 1980, is kept at Suduhumpola Temple in Kandy, about 105 kilometres apart.
DNP director-general Atthapol Charoenchansa said Thai citizens and elephant conservation groups in Sri Lanka have raised concerns about the animals’ welfare and requested their return.
He added that the DNP is scheduled to meet with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand and elephant conservation groups on Tuesday to discuss concerns related to the elephants’ health and diplomatic procedures to bring them home.
Mr Atthapol said any decision must be approved by both governments and the temples that own the elephants.
He said Thailand no longer exports elephants abroad as in the past, and any future animal exchanges must ensure humane treatment.
According to the DNP’s data, between 2001 and 2016, Thailand sent 20 elephants to five countries, including Sri Lanka, Denmark, Japan, Sweden and Australia.