The story of two 'Babies'

Priyanka KURUGALA

Elephants are part of our cultural heritage. As Sri Lankans we can be proud of our elephant population. However at present, due to the cruelty of people, a conflict has developed between elephant and man. But the majority of our people like to enjoy and appreciate nature, particularly wild animals.

Several years ago, a baby elephant named "Baby" used to come and eat bread and other food items at the Situlpawwa ancient temple.

Monks and pilgrims used to lovingly welcome this innocent baby elephant and commenced to treat it as usual. "Baby" used to extend its trunk when stopping a vehicle of pilgrims at the premises of this sacred site. Sometimes "Baby" used to rub his body on vehicles. Many vehicles were damaged due to this and a number of complaints too were made by the very people who showered their love on "Baby" earlier.

Baby elephants won't be babies everyday and "Baby"is no exception. It too grows old with the passage of time. Yet, even during the mating season it did not fail to visit the pilgrims at Situlpawwa who used to shower their love on "Baby" not so long ago. But a more mature "Baby"fails to elicit this love any longer.

"Baby" who was fed and loved for his endearing antics at the Situlpawwa premises by the pilgrims was one day shot and killed by a heartless individual. That was the end of "Baby", the calf who was once the object of love and attention of the thousands of pilgrims who flocked to Situlpawwa.

At present, another calf, also interestingly named "Baby", is making the same trek to Situlpawwa to be fed and fussed over by the pilgrims. Will this "Baby" too suffer a similar fate after it grows old and loses its child like qualities and be an object of fear and dread of some to be shot down in cold blood ?