Elephant Characters of Thailand #1

Elephant Characters of Thailand #1

Muturaja, Finally Home: Some journeys are not about distance. They are about waiting—waiting for the right moment to finally come home.

Elephant Characters of Thailand #1

Who is Muturaja?

Phlai Sak Surin, also known as Muturaja (which means “The King of Pearls”), is a Thai elephant who spent more than 21 years living in Sri Lanka, starting in 2001.

He was one of three elephants sent by Thailand as goodwill ambassadors to take part in Sri Lanka’s annual sacred procession of the Buddha’s relic—known as the Sacred Tooth Relic Procession.

(Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country known for the sacred Tooth Relic procession. Elephants play an important role in this religious ceremony, symbolizing tradition, faith, and cultural heritage.)

Why He Had to Come Home

After many years, Muturaja’s health and living conditions in Sri Lanka became concerning.

He suffered from several chronic health problems:

• physical weakness and weight loss
• a deformed front left leg that could not bend properly
• infected wounds
• cataract in his right eye
• kidney problems and high protein levels in his urine

Many of these issues were caused by years of heavy work.

In July 2023, Muturaja was flown back to Thailand on a special cargo aircraft.
Before the actual journey, many practice sessions were required to prepare him for the flight.

After arriving in Thailand, he was taken to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang, which also serves as an elephant hospital under the National Elephant Institute.

Here, Muturaja finally received proper medical care, nutritious food, rest, and freedom from heavy work.

After two years of treatment, Dr. Taweepok Angkavanich, a veterinarian specializing in elephants and wildlife, shared that Muturaja’s condition has greatly improved.

His eating habits and daily life with his mahouts are now stable.
He understands commands well and lives comfortably.

His front left leg, which had been stiff for many years, can now bend normally.
He also receives physical therapy every day.

Interestingly, Muturaja will only bend his leg when his mahout is nearby.
If his mahout is not present, he returns to his old stiff walking posture—a habit formed over more than 12 years.

From the Storyteller

I have never had the chance to visit Muturaja in person.
I watch him quietly from afar, following daily updates on social media.

From the very first day he arrived in Thailand, I was struck by how magnificent his long tusks were—and at the same time, how heartbreaking his wounds and walking posture looked.

Despite everything, Muturaja is a gentle and cheerful elephant.
On his first day, he happily asked his mahout for bananas—even though he didn’t understand Thai at the time.

Today, after more than two years, he understands Thai commands, responds with bright vocal sounds, eats well, sleeps comfortably, enjoys walking and sunlight, and is deeply loved by many people—including me.

Even at 32 years old, Muturaja still behaves like a child:
asking for bananas, calling out when his mahout disappears, and insisting that his mahout hold his tail while walking back to his shelter.

If you visit Thailand, you can meet Muturaja at the
Thai Elephant Conservation Center,
Thung Kwian Village, Lampang Province.

This place is home to many elderly and injured elephants and welcomes visitors who wish to learn more about Thai elephants through various activities.

Meet Muturaja, the Thai elephant who finally came home to Lampang, Thailand

Meet Muturaja, the Thai elephant who finally came home to Lampang in northern Thailand

Elephant Characters of Thailand #1: Muturaja is not just an elephant who returned home.
He is a reminder that care, patience, and kindness can truly change a life.