Myanmar turns down Thai request for white elephant

Myanmar has turned down Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul's plan to borrow a white elephant from Nay Pyi Taw to display in Chiang Mai zoo. A polite reply from the Myanmar government stated that it would be too difficult to transport the rare albino pachyderm to Thailand.

Surapong made the request to his Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin during a meeting in Bali last week. The request was to hire a white elephant for at least six months on a rental basis to mark the 65th anniversary of Thailand-Myanmar diplomatic relations.

Surapong said earlier that an "auspicious" white elephant might play the symbolic role of a goodwill ambassador, following in the footsteps of China's "panda ambassador" Lin Ping. The elephant could be displayed in Chiang Mai Zoo for six months, he said.

Chiang Mai is home to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Surapong himself.

Wunna Maung Lwin told Surapong that it would be difficult to transport the white elephant to Chiang Mai, according to state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar.

"But it might be convenient for the public to observe the white elephant in Myanmar if special flights are arranged," the Myanmar minister was quoted as saying.

"That would also assist Myanmar's tourism industry in addition to furthering the relationship between our two peoples."

Both Thailand and Myanmar believe that a white elephant is a symbol of fortune, charisma and power of the king. The kingdoms of Burma and Siam once waged war against each other over a white elephant during the Ayutthaya period.

Myanmar, which is no longer a kingdom, discovered many white elephants while Than Shwe was head of the military junta. Myanmar how has eight of the animals kept in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, while Thailand has 10.

Unlike many of Myanmar's white elephants, most of those in Thailand are not albinos, but have pale skin and other characteristics, such as fair eyelashes and toenails.

Many Thais also believe that white elephants are born to serve the King and should therefore not be on show in a zoo.

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