‘We’re going to the zoo, zoo...’

Lyn – affectionately called Lyn Aiya by me, was my first cousin. His mother was my mother’s elder sister. They were the daughters of Rev. Jacob Wijesinghe, an Anglican priest who was also a Sinhalese poet. My earliest recollection of an important day in my association with Lyn was the day he called me "Gamit" to rhyme with my brother’s name Ranjit. He said that my real name - Gamini - was too common. This incident took place when I was about nine years old and all of the cousins were playing cricket on the lawn of their family home "Gladswill" in Mount Lavinia. I am grateful to him for giving me this name because it is quite unique. Everyone in the family and at school know me as Gamit to date.

I recall a few interesting trips to the Zoo in Dehiwela when we were boarders at the Royal College hostel in the late 50s. Lyn was the Assistant Superintendent at the Zoo. We were given exeats by the hostel master on Sunday afternoons and were able to visit the zoo on a few occasions. We would meet Lyn at his quarters near the main gate and spend about an hour visiting the zoo, in particular watching the elephants circus at 5 o’clock in the evening. The highlight was of course when he gave us a note for the restaurant manager with the words "Give these chaps whatever they want to eat and drink." You can imagine what a bonus this was for hungry hostellers.

Lyn was a great traveller even during his university days. Together with two friends he travelled round the country during the holidays. He never failed to visit my parents who were stationed in various places including Bandarawela,Welimada and Medagama. Even at that time he was interested in wildlife and the environment.

I left for the UK in 1965 and I saw him again in 1971 when I visited Sri Lanka. Lyn was at that time seconded to the Singapore Government in order to plan their first Zoo.

He returned to the country in 1973 as the Director of the Zoo and warden of Wildlife. In 1983 he received the International WWF "Member of Honour" award from the Duke of Edinburgh.

In 1987 Lyn had to undergo heart surgery in London and he was lucky to have the best surgeon at that time Professor Magdi Yacoub to operate on him. While convalescing in London he stayed in our home and I had the benefit of spending many evenings with him listening to the very interesting experiences he had with animals. Two stories he related are fixed firmly in my mind. The first was about a lion cub brought up in the Dehiwela zoo and then presented to the Zoo in Delhi. Although the cub’s name was changed on arrival in Delhi, when Lyn visited Delhi 3 years later and called her by her Sri Lankan name, she had responded immediately.

I was under the impression that only elephants had a good memory. The second story concerns elephants that understand humans and also have a sense of humour. Apparently at festivals in the villages it was customary to have various games. One of them was to get all the village "chandiyas" involved in a tug of war with an elephant. The elephant, well aware of what it was all about, would at first tease the young men by allowing them a lot of leeway so they thought they were winning. He would then, with a quick movement of his trunk, pull them all towards him and had many of them sprawled on the ground.

Another interesting story he told me was about the "Elephant Drive" in 1982. This is something Lyn evolved to drive elephants from threatened areas to the National Parks. This particular drive was from Deduru Oya to the Wilpattu wildlife park. Prince Phillip, himself a wildlife enthusiast, had visited Wilpattu National Park soon after this drive and I recollect Lyn telling me that our telecom department fixed a direct line from the jungles of Sri Lanka to Buckingham Palace so the prince could be in touch with the Queen. This fascinated me because this was at a time when we had to wait for months to get a telephone. However it was good to know that we can work wonders when necessary.

On his return to Colombo after his surgery the Singapore Zoo appointed him to conceptualise, plan and establish the world’s first Night Safari Park in the Singapore Zoo.

In September 1992, he had to return to the UK for a cardiologist check up, and once pronounced quite fit, returned to Singapore. Although the Singaporean Government wanted him to stay on, he decided to return home since serving his country was his main intention. He had many ups and downs in Sri Lanka. Yet he did whatever he could for the country. Unfortunately two of his dreams could not be fulfilled: the creation of a night safari in the south of Sri Lanka and the installation of a butterfly park. This was due to various political obstacles that stood in his way. However he was quite delighted when he was awarded the honour of "Deshabandu" last year.

Lyn was interested in music and was a pianist who was an Associate of Trinity College London. He was also the organist at his local church - St Francis of Assisi - for many years. He would play Carols on Christmas Day when the relatives gathered at their home for dinner. The carol singing was followed by local bailas.

On their last visit to the UK in 1992 Lyn presented me with a CD player and a twin piano CD that I enjoy listening to even today.
His was a very useful life where he was able to do much for animals and the environment. He was a person who did things quietly and was not at all ostentatious.

My last visit to him on the first of November at Durdans Hospital was a memorable one. When I approached his bed he held my hand very firmly. I told him "You must go home quickly so we can have a chat," and he replied "Not only a chat we can have a brandy as well".

He was reminiscing about the many chats we had in London over a drink. He never lost his sense of humour right to the end.
I have a lost a dear cousin but the memories will never die."May you rest in peace."