"Minister Varawut" joined the tree to receive Plaisak Surin back from Sri Lanka before sending to the Lampang National Institute of Mental Health for treatment of illnesses.

"Minister Varawut" joined the tree to receive Plaisak Surin back from Sri Lanka before sending to the Lampang National Institute of Mental Health for treatment of illnesses.

Today (July 2, 2023) at 2:00 p.m., Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (Minister of Foreign Affairs) visited Chiang Mai province to follow up on Plaisak Surin from Sri Lanka. To treat illnesses in Thailand under the close supervision of a veterinarian, along with a Thai mahout from the National Institute of Farmers and a Sri Lankan mahout chief from Dehiwala Zoo joining the elephants during the flight on the AZS transport plane. 5701 It is the first time in Thailand to transport the largest creatures. Dr. Yuthaphon Angkinan, Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Pichit Sombatmak, Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr. Auttapol Charoenchansa, Director General of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Acting for Director General of Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and Mr. Sukit Chantong, Director of the Forest Industry Organization, together with relevant officials welcomed them at the warehouse area at Chiang Mai International Airport. It will be transported to the National Institute of Mental Health under the patronage of His Majesty the King for surveillance. and observe symptoms for at least 30 days under the animal epidemic control regulations of the Department of Livestock Development for the prevention of certain communicable diseases with detailed health checks and treatment of illnesses.

Mr. Varawut thanked the Prime Minister for supporting this operation. Bringing Plaisak Surin elephants back to Thailand was successful due to the cooperation of all sectors. It consists of the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Livestock Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Customs Department, the Ministry of Finance, the Chiang Mai Airport Authority, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. It started with the Thai ambassador in Colombo negotiating diplomatically with the Sri Lankan government to bring the elephant back to Thailand for treatment. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment by the Department of National Parks has requested budget support from the government for transporting elephants. There has been coordination with relevant agencies in matters of various important documents until the elephants are moved out of Sri Lanka back to Thailand. He thanked the Sri Lankan government for helping to repatriate the elephants back to Thailand and to the Thai people who have always followed up in bringing Plaisak Surin back to Thailand for treatment of illnesses.

Before moving Plaisak Surin's cage out of the warehouse area, Mr. Varawut gives water to Plaisak Surin and sprays water on the outside of the cage to reduce heat before standing and sending Plaisak Surin's convoy around the exit of the warehouse to continue the journey. It was sent to the quarantine point at the National Institute of Mental Health, Lampang Province. The Permanent Secretary arrived at 6:00 p.m. in advance and observed the transfer of the cage and the removal of Plaisak Surin from the cage. There is a team of expert veterinarians and mahouts from the Forest Industry Organization to take care of closely. According to the procedure, there must be a 30-day quarantine and the elephants are observed to be healthy and able to adapt to the new environment of Thailand. Interested people can follow Plaisak Surin's well-being via CCTV on the Facebook page of The Thai Elephant Conservation Center Lampang.