Thai elephant Muthu Raja has reached back home on Sunday after two decades as the animal was claimed back by its birth country over reports of mistreatment.

The 29-year-old Muthu Raja had been sent to Sri Lanka back in 2001 as a gift by Thai authorities, but the animal was demanded back by his home country after there were reports of Muthu being allegedly tortured and ill-treated in a Buddhist temple.

Muthu was later temporarily moved to a zoo in Colombo after public uproar against the neglect and torture. Animal welfare groups pointed out that the animal presented as gift to the country had been forced to work with a logging crew. The elephant had also sustained wounds, some allegedly inflicted by its handler.

According to the zoo’s chief veterinarian, Muthu Raja was in pain and covered in abscesses when it was rescued from the temple last year.
Cruelty against the largest existing land animal was unacceptable by the authorities as elephants are also considered sacred creatures in Sri Lanka and are protected by law.

The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka said he had personally conveyed the country’s regrets to the Thai king over the elephant’s condition.
One of the organizations that protested for the elephant’s safety, RARE (Rally for Animal Rights and Environment), expressed sorrow over the news of Muthu’s departure and further urged the authorities to take action against those responsible.

Muthu finally reached home on a commercial reparation flight that Thai officials said cost $700,000.

The elephant received a warm welcome at the airport by the Thai environment minister Varawut Silpa-archa. “He travelled five hours and nothing is wrong, his condition is normal,” the minister said.
Thai authorities have planned to quarantine the elephant at a nearby nature reserve.