A rare white elephant has been born in Myanmar, according to state media. In Myanmar, white elephants are symbols of power and luck. The animals have to meet numerous criteria in order to go through life as a ‘white elephant’.
The young elephant was born last month in the western state of Rakhine, weighs about 80 kilograms and is about 70 cm long, the ‘Global New Light of Myanmar’ newspaper reports. State TV footage showed the white elephant following its mother, 33-year-old Zar Nan Hla, to a river, where it was washed by its caretakers.
This elephant has seven of the eight characteristics associated with rare white elephants, according to Global New Light. He has pearl eyes, a fold of skin on the shoulders, white hair, a prominent tail, prominent markings on the skin, five claws on the front legs, four on the hind legs and large ears. This animal was not given a name for the time being.
In Myanmar, white elephants are symbols of power and luck. State media say there are six white elephants in Myanmar, all under the control of the military. It has been in power since the government was overthrown in a coup in February 2021. The coup was followed by prolonged protests.
“Am I color blind?”
On social media, some are skeptical about the message about the white elephant. “Am I color blind if I think he looks brown?” France24 said in a response. Although a white skin is not a necessary condition to be labeled a ‘white elephant’. The body color is gray with a tinge of chestnut brown, but the elephant does have white hair.
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