Rapidly dwindling population of domestic elephants in the country

BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE

KANDY– Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara, warned of a severe scarcity of tamed pachyderms to take part in Buddhist cultural events in the country as the number of domestic elephants were fast dwindling.

Addressing a media briefing in Kandy, the Diyawadana Nilame said that domestic elephants in the country were in the 50-60 age group and, of them, only 94 elephants were suitable to parade the streets in the processions. At the rate the numbers were decreasing, due old age and other reasons, by 2040 the country would be left with only 11 domestic elephants to take part in the Buddhist cultural events.

He said that breeding of elephants is a serious issue as most of the tamed elephants were too old .

The Diyawadana Nilame responding to critics said that elephants taking part in the processions were chained not with the intention of hurting them but for the safety of the spectators.

The Diyawadana Nilame urged authorities to take immediate steps to remedy the situation or else the temple custodians would be forced to conduct the age old Buddhist cultural events in the country, sans elephants. However, he pointed out that the Sri Dalada Maligawa was in a position to have tuskers to carry the Relic casket during the forthcoming Esala Perahera.