Thailand is renewing efforts to bring two Thai elephants, Plai Pratu Pha aged 51 and Plai Srinarong aged 29, back from Sri Lanka after concerns about their health and working conditions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin said he will personally fly to Sri Lanka in early November with a team of veterinarians and a special task force, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Their mission is to assess the elephants’ health and conduct diplomatic negotiations with Sri Lankan authorities, temples, and elephant conservation groups for their return.

The two elephants were sent to Sri Lanka decades ago as goodwill ambassadors. Plai Pratu Pha was sent in 1980 to Suduhumpola Temple in Kandy, while Plai Srinarong was sent in 2001 to Kelaniya Temple in Rattanapura. They are currently about 105 km apart.

Suchart cited Thailand’s previous success in bringing back Plai Saksurin, another Thai elephant sent abroad in 2001, and said he plans to follow a similar model, using health assessments as part of the diplomatic process. Authorities emphasize the importance of retiring the elephants from work and providing proper care at home, noting that negotiations may take time but reaffirming their commitment to the elephants’ welfare.

Historically, Thailand sent 20 elephants abroad between 1980 and 2016 to countries including Sri Lanka, Denmark, Japan, Sweden, and Australia. Thailand no longer has a policy of exporting elephants but ensures that any international exchanges meet strict animal welfare standards.