An elephant was put on display at a Sri Lankan festival.
But its old, bony frame was covered by a costume, wildlife advocates said. Horrifying!
I love elephants. And this is shocking! This 70-year-old skeleton is one of the 60 elephants who must work in the service of the Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka this year. And no one sees her bony body or her weakened condition, because of her costume.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald:
Images of 70-year-old elephant Tikiri’s frail frame were shared on Facebook by the Save Elephant Foundation, a charity dedicated to protecting Asian elephants.
Tikiri was from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy and was paraded during the Perahera Festival, one of the oldest Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka held in July and August.
“She is one of the 60 elephants who must work in the service of the Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka this year,” the foundation wrote.
And continues:
Tikiri joins in the parade early every evening until late at night every night for ten consecutive nights, amidst the noise, the fireworks, and smoke.
She walks many kilometers every night so that people will feel blessed during the ceremony. No one sees her bony body or her weakened condition, because of her costume.
No one sees the tears in her eyes, injured by the bright lights that decorate her mask, no one sees her difficulty to step as her legs are short shackled while she walks.
For a ceremony, all have the right to belief as long as that belief does not disturb or harm another.
This is outrageous, almost torture! How can we call this a blessing, or something holy, if we make other lives to suffer?
Read More:
- https://www.facebook.com/SaveElephantFoundation/posts/2361434793925283
- https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/elephant-s-bony-body-hidden-under-costume-during-sri-lankan-festival-20190815-p52hfl.html
If she’s seventy years old they must be taking good care of her. I’m almost seventy and I have to work Monday thru Friday for ten to eleven hours 50 weeks a year. Why doesn’t anyone feel sorry for me? Did any of the fruitcakes complaining about this elephant having to walk down a street ask the elephant if she enjoyed it. Maybe it gives her purpose and that’s why at seventy she can still parade 10 days out of a year. Their right I can’t see any tears and neither can the they. Nobody has any idea whether she enjoys what she does or doesn’t enjoy it. Whether she has tears in her eyes or doesn’t have teats in her eyes. The article is complete nonsense.