The return of Muthu Raja marks the end of a diplomatic dispute between two countries which both consider elephants to be sacred animals. It comes after a year-long campaign by animal rights activists and the Thai government demanding its return to its birthplace. The 29-year-old elephant was airlifted to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai in a specially-built steel cage, accompanied by its handlers and a Sri Lankan zookeeper.

It will now receive hydrotherapy to treat an injury on its front left leg. The elephant was gifted to Sri Lanka in 2001 by the Thai royal family to be trained as a carrier of religious relics, and was placed in the care of a temple in the south of the country. Animal rights groups allege it was made to work with a logging crew in the temple, leading to a stiff leg from a long-neglected injury.

Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE), a Sri Lanka-based activist group, campaigned for Thai officials to intervene after months of unsuccessful attempts to get Sri Lanka's government to act. They also petitioned for authorities to prosecute those responsible for the elephant's neglect. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena apologised to the Thai king in June, saying he was able to "re-establish trust between the two countries".

Thailand stopped sending elephants overseas about three years ago following protests from activists. Muthu Raja's return marks the end of a diplomatic dispute between two countries which both consider elephants to be sacred animals. While it remains to be seen how the animal will adjust to its new home, animal rights activists will continue to keep a close eye on its progress.