Why the Death of Elephant Plai Thong Bai Has Moved So Many Thais
The death of Plai Thong Bai, one of Thailand’s most famous elephants, triggered an emotional wave far beyond his home province. In the elephant village of Ban Ta Klang, in Surin province, mahouts mourned the animal they sometimes called the patriarch. With his massive tusks stretching over two meters and his imposing presence, Plai Thong Bai seemed to embody an entire part of Thai history on his own.