News
Elephant polo baby jumbo forced to play with wounds
An injured baby elephant forced to entertain tourists at elephant polo matches was sent to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage this week even as news emerged that a second elephant used for polo had been “gifted” out of the Pinnawala haven to a former MP by ex-president Chandrika Kumaratunga.
The little elephant taken into custody last Sunday with several injuries on its legs, wildlife officials said. It was among at least 10 other elephants used for sports events in Oruwala, Athurugiriya.
Wildlife Conservation Deputy Director and head of the Gampaha region flying squad, W.A.D.U Indrajith, said the baby elephant’s left foot had a caved-in wound and the right foot was swollen with an unset bone injury. The young animal also had healed wounds in its hind legs due to being tied up.
The baby elephant reportedly belongs to Mr. S. Nandadasa, the father of Niraj Roshan Pathirana (a.k.a. Ali Roshan), recently arrested for holding elephants without valid licences.
It was sent to Pinnawala while investigations are being carried out into its registration papers and the papers of a 30-year-old elephant also used for polo at Oruwala, belonging to ex-MP Chandana Kathriarachchi.
Two mahouts of the baby elephant were released on bail of Rs. 200,000 each.
Mr. Indrajith said he had received information that 10 elephants were being used for elephant polo at the Oruwala Steel Corporation grounds in matches. He had found the baby elephant and the 30-year-old elephant by the roadside when his team of officials raided the site last Sunday night.
“Elephants can only be registered for religious or cultural purposes but they are used to transport tourists and play games for tourists instead,” he said.
He said the ownership permit of the baby elephant stated that the animal was to be used for “cultural purposes”. It was incomplete and out of date.
Mr. Indrajith said the older elephant, which belonged to Mr. Kathriarachchi, had been given out by presidential decree (Sannasa) by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Mr. Kathriarachchi, a former deputy minister, said he had valid ownership documents. “I have taken this elephant from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage after following a proper procedure and I have even a gazette notification in this regard,” he told media this week. The original papers were in the name of the National Zoological Gardens, which manages the Pinnawala orphanage.
Last Sunday’s raid was carried out by 10 Department of Wildlife officials including veterinary crew.
| Why not ban rides and safaris, asks critic The Department of Wildlife should ban the wildly popular elephant rides and safaris if it prosecuted elephant polo owners at Oruwala, an organisation representing elephants in private ownership charged. “In that case they should ban safari elephant rides in the Habarana and Uda Walawe areas as well and take into custody all elephants used for safari rides,” the Chairman of the Movement for Protecting Domesticated Elephants, Ven. Magalkande Sudatha Thera, said. He pointed out that elephants used for tourist safaris brought in a tremendous amount of money. “If the elephants are used illegally people must be stopped from carrying out such activities,” the Thera said. He claimed Deputy Minister of Tourism and Wildlife Wasantha Senanayake had met monks and other domestic elephant owners thrice this month and agreed to halt raids but, he complained, raids continued. He said the Minister had consented to micro-chipping captive elephants to identify them. “There are 160 elephants registered but some well-known old elephants’ permits are not renewed annually,” the Thera said. “We see that the department is taking custody of young elephants that even have renewed permits”, he added. He vowed that his organisation would take action against the authorities if the matter were not resolved. |