News
Jumbo report reveals deceitful, cruel and deadly practices
Harmful ways in which wild elephants and calves are captured and transported, as well as deceitful practices involving permits, will be detailed in a report to crime investigators by an environmental conservation group.
The report by the Environment Conservation Trust reveals instances when pachyderms have even been transported in plastic tanks. The group will hand over their findings to the Criminal Investigations Department.
Findings also will expose tactics used by the suspected elephant thief Niraj Roshan Pathirana alias “Ali Roshan”, who is in custody. Police investigators say that most illegally-captured elephants had been traced to the suspect.
Environment Conservation Trust Director Sajeewa Chamikara said the first case of spiriting away of an elephant had been detected in 2007.
Four wheel drive vehicles including Landrover Defenders are used in operations to capture calves, he said. Calves are restrained with a noose around the neck and legs. These cut through the skin as the creatures struggle to free themselves.
At times a calf is tranquilised to capture it, while the mother would be shot and killed, Chamikara said.
When captured wild elephants are transported in lorries they are carried along with animals for which legal documents are available, thus foiling possible detection by law enforcement, he said.
Chamikara cites instances when elephants were transported in containers without ventilation or light.
“Smaller elephants are tranquilised and their legs tied when they are transported in plastic water tanks,’’ he claimed.
Police told the Sunday Times that calves are captured from Kataragama, Uda Wlawe and Habarana areas.
Investigators are now examining the registry of elephants which is believed to have been doctored.
Police media spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said “Ali Roshan’’ was involved in illicitly removing elephants. Six elephants that had been sold had been detected by the CID.
Meanwhile, The National Movement for the Protection of Domesticated Elephants protested against the Wildlife Department. They demand a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Tourism to discuss the fate of captive elephants.
The head of the movement, Ven. Magalkande Sudatha Thera said the Wildlife Minister has not offered a solution. Another meeting has been scheduled for April 2.
He complained that captive elephants including animals employed in temple processions face the threat of being taken away by officials.
Chairman of Sihala Rawaya, Ittakande Saddathissa Thera believes foreign countries are plotting against Buddhist culture. He notes that even the tusker of the Sri Dalada Maligawa is a captive elephant.
Former Parliamentarian as well as the Secretary of The National Movement for the Protection of Domesticated Elephants, Ven Akmeemana Dayaratna Thera, charged that domesticated elephants have been officially registered since the early 90s, but wildlife officials had failed to maintain proper legal documents.
Wildlife Director General H.D Ratnayake said raids will continue. A legalisation process could begin after investigations are complete, he added.
Amid the controversy over domesticated elephants, Senior lecturer of Sri Jaywardenapura University, Ven. Dambara Amila Thera, believes Buddhists must not hold animals captive. Captured elephants are tamed by inflicting pain. He supports the severest punishment for anyone holding elephants through suspicious documents.
Ven. Dambara Amila Thera said that if a tusker was needed to carry the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, wildlife authorities should provide one for the Kandy Esala Perahera.
“Monks who break the law by keeping elephants illegally and take cover behind their robe must be punished according to law and should be disrobed,’’ Ven. Amila Thera said.
President of Species Conservation Centre Pubudu Weerarathna said that an elephant that belonged to a mayor was found held in a container last year and police are investigating.
Mr. Weerarathna said Wildlife Department officials have forged signatures and documents and tampered with details of elephants in the registry. There have been instances when two elephants had been registered under one number. Information in the registry such as dates, have been amended with correction liquid. Some documents contain non-existent names and addresses. Many calves have not been registered.
He said 181 permits are in use, while 94 elephants are registered to the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens. And 81 elephants have perished. Five permits are missing and 52 permits are suspected to be forged documents.