It is considered by some Buddhist cultures to be a sign of good fortune. A rare white elephant was born in late July in a region of western Burma, state media reported on Wednesday.
Born on July 23 in Rakhine State, the pachyderm weighed at birth nearly 80 kilograms, for about 70 centimeters in height, indicated the Global New Light of Myanmar. He has seven of the eight characteristics associated with albino elephants, including “pearl-colored eyes”, “white coat”, “distinctive tail”, according to the official daily.
Some skeptical netizens
Her 33-year-old mother, named Zar Nan Hla, is cared for by a state-owned timber company. Footage broadcast by the state channel showed the baby elephant, which has yet to be named, playing in the water with its mother. The very rare white elephants are considered an auspicious gem in some Southeast Asian Buddhist cultures, which associate them with symbols of royalty. There are six in captivity in the capital Naypyidaw, according to state media, mostly from Rakhine state and Ayeyarwady.
On social networks, some comments were skeptical, in a context of heightened tensions in Burma, plunged into chaos since the military coup of February 1, 2021 and the repression of opponents by the junta that followed. “Am I color blind or does the elephant only look gray to me? asked one of them, while another said: “Now the poor elephant is going to have to go to prison. »