Report: Rare White Elephant Captured
Copyright 2001 Associated Press
November 8, 2001
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A rare white elephant has been caught in a jungle in western Myanmar, the official press reported Thursday, hailing the find as an auspicious event that bodes well for the military state.
The 8-year-old beast, standing 6 foot, was among eight elephants caught by forestry officials last month at Chutpyin village in Rakhine State, 340 miles northwest of Yangon, the New Light of Myanmar reported.
The white elephant is more calm and steady than the other seven elephants and has distinctive characteristics, including pearl-colored eyes and white hairs on the body. Its skin is light pink in the rain and soft reddish brown in sunny weather, the report said.
The New Light, which is a mouthpiece of the ruling military junta, said the find augured well for Myanmar as the regime endeavored to build a peaceful and prosperous nation.
The New Light and two other state newspapers devoted an entire page each to the report. They didn't say what would be done with the elephant.
White elephants have been revered for centuries in Southeast Asia and were the symbol of kingship in Myanmar, also known as Burma, Thailand and Laos. In Thailand, all white elephants traditionally belong to the king.
Nearly 3,000 elephants are still extensively used in Myanmar forests to haul teak logs. A war between the kings in Myanmar and Thailand was fought in the 16th century over disputed ownership of four white elephants.
The white elephant is not actually white, and most of them look much the same as others except for certain features such as fair eyelashes and toenails, light colored hair or reddish hue of the skin.