Heart-wrenching images have surfaced of an elephant who appears painfully thin, with each rib visible, after years of being made to partake in a festival with a costume. Tikiiri, a 70-year-old female elephant, is set to join 60 other elephants for the Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka this year, despite her fragile state and declining health. The festival, which spans ten days and celebrates the Buddhist tradition, showcases adorned elephants alongside a variety of performers such as dancers, jugglers, fire-breathers, and musicians. Save Elephant Foundation shared distressing photos of Tikiiri in recognition of World Elephant Day on Monday.
Tikiiri, a 70-year-old female elephant, will be one of the 60 elephants taking part in the Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka this year, despite her age and health issues.
Every evening for ten consecutive nights, Tikiiri joins the parade, walking long distances amidst the noise, fireworks, and smoke to bring blessings to the ceremony. She wears a sparkly dress that hides her frail body and suffering, with no one seeing the tears in her eyes or the shackles on her legs.
The organization behind Tikiiri’s participation in the festival questions how such suffering can be considered a blessing or holy, calling for an end to the cruelty. They urge viewers to write to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to stop the exploitation of elephants for entertainment.
According to the organization, true peace cannot be achieved if such mistreatment of animals is normalized or accepted.
As festival-goers admire Tikiiri in her glamorous full-body dress, the reality behind the costume is nothing short of grueling.
Following the teachings of Buddha, which emphasize love, harmlessness, kindness, and compassion, it is imperative that we take action now.
Viewers expressed heartbreak over Tikiiri’s mistreatment, with some describing it as despicable and urging for change in how we treat these majestic creatures.
One person vowed to reach out to the Sri Lankan government to address the issue, while others expressed their sadness and called for Tikiiri to be given a sanctuary to live out her remaining days.
Save Elephant Foundation, a non-profit organization, works tirelessly to provide care for Thailand’s captive elephant population.
The heart-wrenching images of Tikiiri were posted by the Save Elephant Foundation in honor of World Elephant Day this past Monday. The foundation was established by Sangdeaun Lek Chailert, who started advocating for better treatment of elephants in Asia out of her deep love for these majestic creatures and her concerns about their declining numbers in the wild.
The main goal of the Save Elephant Foundation is to protect the Asian elephant from extinction and to provide a more humane and fulfilling life for domesticated elephants by preserving their natural habitats and raising awareness about proper care practices. One of their key projects is the Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary located in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.
According to World Animal Protection, there are about 3,000 elephants being exploited for entertainment purposes across Asia, with a troubling 77 percent of them facing cruel treatment. Despite these statistics, over 800,000 Australians visit Thailand annually, often flocking to tourist destinations where they can ride elephants, witness them perform tricks, and feed them.
A spokesperson from the Sacred Tooth Relic reassured Metro that they always prioritize the well-being of animals during their festivals.