Animal rights group raises concern over use of Nadungamuwa Raja for Kandy Perahera

An animal rights group has raised concern over using the 68-year-old tusker Nadungamuwa Raja for this year’s Esala Perahera due to its health conditions.

Maneesha Arachchige founder of RARE (Rally for Animal Rights & Environment) said they were concerned about the long journey the tusker had to make to Kandy to take part in the pageant.

The group said that tusker which started its journey on August 2 and within few days of the journey its left foot had started swelling.

Here is the full statement issued by RARE:

“Wild born Indian tusker Nadungamuwa Raja is now approx. 68 years old. He was brought to Sri Lanka in 1956 and is one of the most celebrated captive elephants in Sri Lanka. He has carried the sacred tooth relic in the Kandy Esala Perahera on many occasions. As the tallest captive elephant in Sri Lanka he towers at around 10.5 feet (3.2 metres) in height and as Nadungamuwa Raja refuses to board a truck each year he is walked the 90km to Kandy to participate in the Kandy Esala perahera. After a 3 year absence from Kandy Perahera this year his journey of 90km to Kandy started on 2nd August 2021. Within few days of the journey we noticed his left foot starting to swell.

In video footage shot today, Monday, 9th August 2021, 8 days into his journey it is apparent that Nadungamuwa Raja’s left leg now has significant swelling and he appears to be limping and unable to bend it. Forcing an elderly ailing elephant to complete this journey is animal cruelty. His journey should end now and be examined and treated by a team expert veterinary doctors without delay. He should not be allowed to participate in the perahera this year or in the future and should be retired from service and kept in a chain free, free roaming environment to live out at least the rest of his life in freedom and peace. We owe this to him for the service that he has done for all these years.

Maneesha Arachchige founder of RARE (Rally for Animal Rights & Environment) said 

“We are very concerned that an elderly elephant was permitted to commence such an arduous journey in the first instance. The fact that he has now sustained an injury was entirely predictable. Elephant feet are very sensitive and a foot injury can be fatal for an elephant. This case shows why a mandatory retirement age for captive elephants must be introduced in Sri Lanka. Our country and people were shamed internationally by the Tikiri affair back in 2019 this is like history repeating itself. We appear to have learn’t nothing.”

Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera