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Chief monk claims he did ‘everything’ to heal ‘abused’ tusker
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Roshan Jayasundara, the mahout
By Kasun Warakapitiya
Aluthgama Kande Viharaya Chief Incumbent, Ven KokkavitaWipulasara Nayaka Thera, who is the custodian of Sak Surin (named Muthu Raja after it was gifted to Sri Lanka) due to be airlifted to Thailand for treatment, expects the return of the animal after it is cured.
He said that an agreement has been signed with the Thai Ambassador that the tusker would be sent to Thailand for medical treatment under the condition that it would be returned to the temple.
A Thai Embassy Spokesman said that the mission declines to comment on any matter regarding Sak Surin and will not react to any claims by the Chief Incumbent as the matter was sensitive.
“Even before I became the chief incumbent of Aluthgama Kande Viharaya four years back, the animal was suffering from stiffness in its left front leg. Though I did not know how it occurred, I did everything possible to heal the animal,’’ he said.
He said that he contacted Professor Asoka Dangolla, and under his advice, carried out traditional and western medicine.
“The elephant is like a child,” he said. “The small monks even feed him and play with the elephant’s tusks. It is great sadness that the animal would be leaving.”
Even though the Thera believed the animal was suffering from an arthritis condition, NGOs wrote to the Thai Government that the animal was mistreated. This prompted several visits during which they directed methods of treatment and care.
Yet, when treatments did not yield promising results the Thai Government said Sri Lanka was ill-equipped to cure the animal and offered treatment in Thailand at their expense.
Ven. Wipulasara Thera, has denied allegations of animal cruelty made by animal rights activists, and said he agreed to send the animal to Thailand thinking of the animal’s welfare.
The elephant shed near Kande Viharaya remained damp and wet even several months after the tusker was taken to the zoo
He denied the claims that he was given a golden statue to get him to agree to release the elephant. The Thera said he didn’t need to get money or gold as the temple had its own funds along with personal funds raised while he was staying in the US.
He feared activists would campaign against him if he refused the Thai Government’s offer, and be branded as a person who condemned the animal to death. He alleged the NGOs were against temple elephants and had other intentions to take custody of the animal, exhibit it and defame the temple.
Roshan Jayasundara, the mahout of the Aluthgama Kande Viharaya who looked after the elephant for nearly 20 years, described Sak Surin as aggressive. He admits he used spiked chains and bull hooks because the elephant had a tendency to run amok at peraheras.
Mr. Jayasundara denied putting the elephant to work to earn money carrying tourists on its back said he did not keep it chained for long periods. He said the abscesses were allergic reactions to antibiotics, But he could not explain the stiffness of its left leg. He complained that the zoo restricted him from feeding the elephant.
A veterinary expert told the Sunday Timeson condition of anonymity that the tusker’s foot pads were worn off and it appeared as if it had stayed on a wet floor for long periods. Our observations of the elephant shed near Kande Viharaya showed it to be damp and wet several months after the tusker was taken to the National Zoological Gardens.
Ven KokkavitaWipulasara Nayaka Thera visited the elephant at the zoo on Thursday. Pix by Indiak Handuwala
The expert revealed that the elephant’s pus-filled abscesses were the result of bacterial infections caused by keeping it in unsuitable conditions. Abrasions that have now healed are evidence the animal was cruelly treated. These show it had been chained in uncomfortable positions for long periods and that thorny shackles were used, he said.
National Zoological Gardens sources claimed the elephant is not violent and responds to mahouts from Thailand and the zoo, even allowing veterinarians to treat it. They had stopped the mahout Mr.Jayasundsara from feeding the animal as he was recording his deeds and making false claims that the zoo is not feeding it, in a desperate attempt to regain custody of the animal.
Thai Government officials have visited the elephant holding area at Kande Viharaya and observed that Sak Surin had been used for rides.
Meanwhile, Panchali Panapitiya, Executive Director of Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE), said that there was no point in bringing back the animal, now permanently disabled. It should now be given extra care and veterinary treatment and be retired, she maintained. The Government should take legal action against those who mistreated the tusker and apologise to the Thai Government.
Minister of Wildlife Pavithra Wanniarachi claimed in Parliament that the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) cannot interfere as the Government had handed the elephant over to the Aluthgama Kande Viharayatemple via a “sannasa” after the animal was gifted from Thailand. When this happens, responsibility is transferred from the DWC to the temple.
DWC Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara said allegations against them in the public domain were baseless and wrong and that he would explain his Department’s position in the future.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament that he had expressed his regret to the Thai Prime Minister regarding the treatment of the elephant.
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