Elephant keepers led an ailing Thai elephant named Sak Surin, also known as 'Muthu Raja', to the flight cage for his flight back to Thailand from the National Zoological Garden in Dehiwala Suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 01 July 2023. Sak Surin is a 29-year-old elephant received by Sri Lanka as a gift from the Thai government in 2001. After two decades, the ailing elephant was flown back to Thailand on a charter plane on 01 July to receive medical care. EPA / CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE
The elephant is flying from Colombo, Sri Lanka, back to Thailand. EPA
Sak Surin is aged 29. EPA
The elephant was a gift to Sri Lanka from the Thai government in 2001. EPA
It is being flown back to Thailand on a charter plane to receive medical care. AFP
People gather to say goodbye to Sak Surin. EPA
Elephant keepers with the animal. EPA
Workers prepare the flight cage. EPA
Elephant keepers led an ailing Thai elephant named Sak Surin, also known as 'Muthu Raja', to the flight cage for his flight back to Thailand from the National Zoological Garden in Dehiwala Suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 01 July 2023. Sak Surin is a 29-year-old elephant received by Sri Lanka as a gift from the Thai government in 2001. After two decades, the ailing elephant was flown back to Thailand on a charter plane on 01 July to receive medical care. EPA / CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE
The elephant is flying from Colombo, Sri Lanka, back to Thailand. EPA
Sak Surin is aged 29. EPA
The elephant was a gift to Sri Lanka from the Thai government in 2001. EPA
It is being flown back to Thailand on a charter plane to receive medical care. AFP