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| Saturday, 9 August 2003 |
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Features | |
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God save the King On the grand stand as the tusker that carries the golden casket followed by over a 100 of other elephants, annually at colourful pageants conducted to celebrate numerous religious events throughout the country, it has stirred up controversy in recent times not only of its extinction in the wilderness but raising questions of its availability to perform its age old duties at the most holiest of pageants of them all `The Esala Perahera'. by Prasad Abu Bakr
At a recent television interview Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara who is Basnayake Nilame of the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya and the Ruhunu Maha Katharagama Devalaya said that if arrangements are not made to fill in the void that will soon be created by the lack of tuskers and other elephants participating in various pageants in the country, the organisers of these events will have to fill them with either clay or cane crafted replicas. It has been widely reported by temple authorities that the dearth of domesticated elephants might effect these religious pageants in a big way. As most of the elephants already in captivity are of a very old age it has posed a problem in recent times to have a free flow of elephants annually to participate in these pageants. Tuskers that are predominantly used to carry the holiest of relics are so small in number that even to think that the pattern will last for the next ten years is a remote thought. The shortage of domesticated elephants annually, specially at the Kandy Perahera could make the pageant lose its grandiose as a result.
As a result, the government is taking steps to sell and donate elephants to private individuals and temples so as to curb the anticipated shortage. The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry came to a decision to sell six elephants to private elephant owners and also donate another to a devalaya that requested for a tusker in view of its on-coming crisis. Environmentalists are crying foul that the elephants at Pinnawela are being sold to private individuals ignoring the fact that the very purpose in establishing such an organisation, which was to house and treat wild elephants found injured in the wild and giving temporary refuge to abandoned baby elephants is lost.
It is reported that over 1200 elephants have died during the past 10 years, mostly owing to hunters and poachers destroying them for various purposes, mostly for its ivory and at times for the valuable pearls found within its tusks.
Everthough there is a massive campaign to curb the sale of these materials worldwide very little progress has been made. Taking into consideration that these operations are sometimes spearheaded with the wide participation of various organisations safeguarding animal rights,the overall results are of poor showing. Raising their voices against the killing of these giants of the jungle has created a great challenge to these animal protection societies. It is not only individuals that they confront, sometimes organised gangs have to be apprehended to keep maximum damage under control. Its great attraction to both wildlife and nature lovers has remained unchanged over the years. Its colossal presence within its habitat makes the environment surrounding it look so insignificant bringing out its grandeur eventhough not clad in ceremonial regalia. The presence of elephants are most significant at pageants. Everybody present will always look out for the number of elephants that will participate. It is in great awe that viewers young and old will look at these gentle giants who are largely threatened by man that invade their private abode in contrary to the ones that are killed when they play the intruders to the farmers lands.
The official records of the Department of Wildlife show that elephants are on a static decline besides all the protests and appeals that surround it. The total number of animals killed during the past 10 years adds up to 1,369 among which a colossal 777 have died of gunshot injuries, which show that hunting of these mammals are ever on the increase. 96 have died of electrocution, which is also the deed of man in the attempt of trying protect his land by releasing high voltage power to surrounding fences and partitions. 275 numbers have died of unknown reasons while 29 have died by falling into pits or wells. Farmers have claimed the lives of 15 by poisoning. 19 have died in rail accidents and 12 by drowning. Injuries to the trunk have claimed the lives of 5. Around 3 elephants have died in the process of being tranquillized and another 46 have perished in direct conflict with humans while 79 have died in various other incidents. It is also reported that among the 1,369 elephants that have died there was a total number of 100 tuskers. The Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa has been reported as saying that there is an acute shortage of elephants at the annual cultural pageant which is being currently held in the hill capital of Kandy. It is envisaged that the missing numbers will be imported from countries such as Myanmar.
The elephant is highlighted as the carrier of God Saman and the protector of the land surrounding Sri Pada. It is also stated that Princess Mahamaya dreamt of a white elephant carrying a lotus during the time she was to give birth to prince Siddartha. Its association with religion and culture dates back to times immemorial. The carrying of the golden casket bearing the sacred tooth is a significant event bestowed upon a tusker adding not only religious significance to the event but also a glamorous and towering climax to the highly venerated pageant. Whether we are seeing the tail end of elephants' presence in the pageant is yet to be seen. |
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Produced by Lake House |
The pageant which is considered one of the most colourful and glorious
events in the world is mostly patronised by visitors for its parading
through the streets of the hill capital invoking its blessing on the
multitude of on lookers that throng the historical city for over a week in
the month of August culminating on Poya Day which is known as the 'Esala
period'.
While the presence of the elephant at pageants is becoming a much
talked about issue in the media, in a separate development it is stated
that certain officials of Pradeshiya Sabhas, specially in areas with
remote sanctuaries frequented by elephants are blaming Wildlife officers
of the Wildlife Department for not taking stern measures to tame wild
elephants that are making a nuisance of themselves to the villagers
damaging their crops and homes. One official noted that the interest drawn
towards an injured or dead elephant is hardly equal to a death of a poor
farmer caused by these mammals. While there will be raised voices of
animal rights activists aired through the media there will be very few
that will show any sympathy towards the human life that was lost owing to
its attempt to safeguard its crops or family.
The numbers that have been ever declining over the years haven't been
replaced owing to the unavailability of tamed elephants.
