Rare 'white' elephant captured in Burma

A rare "white elephant", a traditional symbol of good fortune and power in south-east Asia, has been captured in Burma, state media reports.

Reports say the 2m (6.5ft) female elephant was tracked down in Maungdaw in the west of the country.

White elephants are only nominally white - they often look reddish-brown in the sun, and light pink when wet.

Analysts say the animal is likely to be brought to the capital, Naypyidaw, for the military ruler, General Than Shwe.

With elections due this year under terms the country's opposition considers unacceptable, Burma's military rulers have been hunting for their good omen for some time now, says the BBC's Viv Marsh.

When locals sighted a white elephant earlier this year in the jungle in Rakhine state, a unit of the Ministry of Forestry was sent to scour the area and find it, the New Light of Myanmar reported.

news.bbc.co.uk...

So an undemocratic military dictatorship captured an elephant to somehow justify or 'bless' its rule?

reply to post by InvisibleAlbatross

Population of Burma is mostly spiritually aware Buddhist folk who believe in Karma and have high respect for local animals. Higher officials are obviously not them, military dictatorships aka "democratic government" actively suppress religions in Burma. Unregulated trade and hunting allow for few men to profit on the sensitive ecosystem.

Hi there. I'm regular visitor to ats, but only occasionally put in some thoughts into the threads.

From what I can gather, the people of Myammar (or Burma) are pretty much religious. As for the news of this "white elephant", it is as what it was reported, then it could also portend changes in the political structure.

Several before, 2007 or 2008 (don't remember the exact year) ago, prior to the junta crushing a demonstration that also involved the Buddhist monks, there was also a news report of one of their holiest temple suffered a collapse in one of the structure under renovation in which the benefactor was from the family of the ruling junta.

If it does mean change, lets hope it is for the good. The people has suffered a lot for a land that is so rich and beautiful.