Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, and senior officials from his ministry, flew to Chiang Mai on Sunday morning to receive Plai Sak Surin and oversee the operation unloading him from the Russian transport plane.
Varawut and the senior officials were seen on the airport’s runway.
They left the tarmac at 3.50 pm before the truck drove off.
Varawut told reporters that veterinarians had checked and found that the elephant was fit for the drive to the elephant hospital in Lampang’s Hang Chat district.
“Have a safe trip” and “get well soon” were the most common phrases shouted.
The elephant was in a special cage decorated with paintings of the Thai and Sri Lankan national flags.
He left Thailand when he was seven…
