A rare white elephant has been born in western Myanmar, the country's state media reported on Wednesday, 3 August. In the majority-Buddhist country, white elephants were considered a symbol of good fortune.

According to the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, the calf, born last month in western Rakhine state, weighs about 80 kilograms (180 pounds) and is about 70 cm (two and a half feet) tall.

Footage broadcast on state television showed the calf following its mother to a river, being bathed and being fed.

The calf's mother is 33 and named Zar Nan Hla. The Global New Light said the calf has seven of the eight characteristics of a rare white elephant.

News of the white elephant's birth spread on social media late last month, but it has not yet been named.

Historically, white elephants were considered highly auspicious in Southeast Asian cultures, and ancient rulers of the region acquired them as symbols of their good fortune.

There are reportedly six white elephants now in junta-ruled Naypyidaw, most of them from the southern Ayeyarwady region and Rakhine state.

Many people on social media reacted negatively, given last year's military coup in Myanmar and the bloody crackdown on dissent.

With reporting from AFP.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.