Heartbreaking images of a malnourished 70-year-old elephant forced to perform in a Sri Lankan festival have been circulated online by an animal rights group, as it called for an end to animal exploitation in captivity.
The photographs, which were shared online by the charitable organization Save Elephant Foundation, based in Thailand, show an emaciated elephant collapsed on the floor after performing in Sri Lanka’s annual Esala Perahera Festival.
Lek Chailert, the founder of the group, wrote in a Facebook post on Aug. 13: “This is Tikiri, a 70-year-old ailing female. She is one of the 60 elephants who must work in the service of the Esala Perahera Festival in the Sri Lanka this year.
“Tikiri joins in the parade early every evening until late at night every night for ten consecutive nights, amidst the noise, the fireworks, and smoke.”
“She walks many kilometers every night so that people will feel blessed during the ceremony. No one sees her bony body or her weakened condition, because of her costume,” the post continued.
“No one sees the tears in her eyes, injured by the bright lights that decorate her mask, no one sees her difficulty to step as her legs are short shackled while she walks.”
Photographs of Tikiri showed embellished robes covering her frail and bony body as she wandered the streets of Kandy.
Chailert added that the group believes that as the elephant is suffering, her participation in the ceremony can not be considered a blessing or “something holy.”
“Today is World Elephant Day. We cannot bring a peaceful world to the elephant if we still think that this image is acceptable,” the charity’s head added.
“To love, to do no harm, to follow a path of kindness and compassion, this is the Way of Buddha. It is time to follow.”
The Save Elephant Foundation urged the public to get in touch with Sri Lanka’s prime minister to take immediate action.
“Sri Lankan authorities must stop allowing such atrocious cruelty and send this poor elephant to a reputable sanctuary where she can be assessed by veterinarians and, if treatment is viable, live out her remaining years in peace,” she said.
In a statement, she urged the public to refuse elephant rides when offered and to avoid “any attraction that offers or endorses elephant rides, keeps the animals chained, or forces them to perform.”
The animal is protected under Sri Lankan law, and an individual can face the death penalty for killing one.