Elephant racing at ‘avurudu’ and killings by wild elephants
This has reference to the article (Sunday Observer (April 29), condemning Elephant Races during ‘Avurudu’ by prominent Animal Welfare Activists.
Yes, ‘inducing pain’ to make the elephant run faster for a win is barbaric. It is also more than barbaric to tolerate destruction of cultivation, wattle and daub houses and the lives of poor village farmers, by wild elephants. When it is done by man it is ‘barbaric’ and ‘by wild elephant’ should we call it ‘animal instincts’ and go for a sea-bath?
Well , having spoken about ‘cruelty to elephants’ let us now talk about ‘cruelty to humans’ in fairness to the poor villagers killed by wild elephants on a ‘daily basis’. Otherwise, it would look like “counting Sprats, leaving aside deadly Sharks”.
My idea is only to ‘provoke’ animal lovers into action to ‘evoke’ a practical solution, as the next step.
Distinguished activists are kindly invited to use their ‘good offices’ at their level to give a ‘kick-start’ to the authorities to initiate action.
There is nothing wrong in pondering that the elephant community should be protected as a national asset because they earn the much needed foreign exchange by entertaining foreign tourists and also help preserve our culture in so many ways, including, participating in Peraheras.
The advantages of safeguarding lives and earthly wealth of village farmers – poorest of the poor- outweigh the disadvantages of allowing wild elephants to multiply and move freely, by the millions!
There is an allegation that the villagers are encroaching the land “belonging to wild elephants” but it should not mean that wild elephants should be allowed to multiply and move freely, killing poor villagers and destroying all their earthly wealth.
Recently, the TV showed a small girl, 11 years old, and her younger brother their eyes filled with tears – embracing an aunt and weeping over the untimely death of their loving father, aged 38, killed by a wild elephant, near Tissamaharama.
They lost their mother a few years ago and now their father. Just imagine the plight of these two innocent children. “If you have tears, prepare to shed them now”.
I am aggrieved at the killing of poor villagers and frustrated at the bureaucratic lethargy in taking preventive action.
Immediate solutions:
Proposal 1
Clearing of shrubs on either side of the interior roads and pathways in areas vulnerable to elephant attack up to 10 metres from the edge of the road, allowing single trees to remain, for the visibility of wild elephants from a distance.
A big part of this work can be entrusted to the villagers themselves who will willingly do it with the necessary equipment and assistance provided by the government.
Proposal 2
Continuation of the ‘electric fence’ with 8x8 size solid concrete posts with extra iron rods with deep bases strong enough to withstand pushing by elephants.
These posts should be well wrapped in live electric wire to prevent elephants from touching them.
As a matter of interest, research work should be carried out for the use of ‘Solar Power” for the electric fence without taxing the national grid.
Contracts for erection of these concrete posts should not be given to private contractors, for obvious reasons.
Proposal 3
Long term plan:
l Offer to ‘gift’ young elephants to friendly countries. If we can try and gift about 25 in the first round, it would be a ‘good start’
l Implement a population control plan for the wild elephants as well, leaving ‘just enough’ for tourism and other considerations, in the same way as it was done for the man and the dog.
In case of any objection, we can plead for forbearance confessing that this is only a “lesser evil to prevent a bigger evil” in the absence of an alternative. This may take a ‘decade’ to bring forth expected results. Better late than never!
Let this be a ‘gentle challenge’ or a ‘kind invitation’ to Animal Welfare Activists to propose a better alternative.
Anthony J. Perera
Makola
Perseverance and justice
Perseverance and justice are some of the essential ingredients for the ruler in solving problems of commoners in any country. If the leader fails to adhere to such virtuous qualities, he would end his career in an unpleasant manner. Rulers in heterogeneous societies generally encounter enormous problems that can in no way be solved by a weak ruler. The governor of a country must have the courage to nip in the bud any problem arising in such a society, in its initial stage. There cannot be many solutions, but only one. Postponing the solving of such problems could lead to criticizing such men in power and authority.
It is an accepted fact that rulers are born, not made. A weak ruler cannot prolong his political ideals, and will be discarded by the public.
The ruler must possess vigilance to solve problems arising from disputes in connection with caste, creed or colour. In a democratic society like ours one political leader must not criticize another in the presence of a large crowd. The other factor is that some politicians in Parliament today sadly lack in good behaviour.
- Dharma Kaviraj