» 01/24/2012 15:11 SRI LANKA Protected elephants become expensive gifts for politicians and businessmen by Melani Manel Perera The Elephants Orphanage in Pinnawala is accused of illegally selling dozens of animals to private individuals. Animal rights activists call for a moratorium on their sale; they complain that the animals are ill treated by the politicians and religious leaders who buy them as a status symbol.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – When they are not illegally sold by the dozen to politicians and Buddhist religious leaders, the animals at the Elephants Orphanage in Pinnawala (90 km north-east of Colombo) die from disease, beating and poor food. At a press conference on 18 January in Colombo during the Wildlife Conservation Forum, various environmentalist groups have called on the authorities to tag the animals living at the facility to stop their illegal trade.
In Sri Lanka, owning an elephant is a status symbol. Often the pachyderms are exchanged by politicians, businessmen and religious leaders or sold to underground traffickers who resell them in the illegal exotic animal trade.
Since 1975, the Pinnawala orphanage has helped preserve the species, said Sajeewa Chamikara, director of the Environment Conservation Trust (ECT). In 37 years, 67 animals were born in captivity. However, sales and loans to privates are such profitable activities, that the facility’s administrators have developed a network of contacts. Last year, the orphanage sold 12 animals to politicians, religious leaders and businessmen.
However, nothing guarantees that they will be treated well and with respect. In fact, “Most of the domesticated elephants are ill treated and suffer from malnutrition,” he said. Many have died after suffering for years. Early deaths are a common feature. And most of the domesticated elephants die without contributing to the breeding gene pool”.
For Rukshan Jayewardene, of the Wilderness Areas and Protected Areas Foundation, the orphanage has betrayed its mission by selling animals. Private citizens generally do not care about the animals’ welfare. They are just status symbols, tools to be overworked or ill-treated.
Forum convener Nayanaka Ranwella said that the National Zoological Gardens (NZG), which is in charge of the orphanage, is aware of the situation but has done nothing to stop it. He said that a requested was made in writing to the NZG to test the animals for DNA and tag them, but that nothing was done.
Today, the island is home to 8,500 elephants, both in the wild or captivity. Over the years, industrial and agricultural development has reduced their natural habitat, bringing them into close (and dangerous) contact with farmers and ranchers.
In many regions, elephants have attacked villages and destroyed crops, unleashing a war between man and these giant animals.
The government has set up sanctuaries and shelters where they can live and receive treatment if they are hurt or captured by humans.
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