One of Sri Lanka’s most valued treasures is elephants and they are an imporatnat part of the island’s religious and cultural fabric. Today, S,N, Sasrutha Nayanathul Dias showcases some interesting facts about elephants in Sri Lanka.
Elephants are the largest animals on Earth and are also supposed to be the most intelligent animals in the animal-world. They are catergorised as African elephants and Asian elephants. Asian elephants are divided into four groups, Indian elephants, Sri Lankan elephants, Borneo pygmy elephant and Sumatran elephants. African elephants are divided as African bush elephants and African forest elephants.
The scientific name for the Sri Lankan elephant is Elephas maximus maximus and they are classified as mega herbivores. Sri Lanka’s elephant population stood at 7,500 for 2020. Their life expectancy is 65 years and the life span is 40-50 years. The Sri Lankan elephant’s height is b tusker etween 2-3m while the weight is between 2000 -5000kg. They eat 150kg of grass and other leafy food per day. Sugar-cane and wood apples are relished by the Sri Lankan elephants.
Each elephant’s tusks is different in size, shape and weight. Elephants with tusks are known as tuskers (ethas). An elephant’s eyes are small and vision is limited. Theey cannot see beyond 30 metres unless the object is large and erect. However, their senses of smell and hearing are well developed and the large ear lobes of the elephants help them to communicate using visual, acoustic, and chemical signals. At least fourteen different vocal and acoustic signals have been found including some low-frequency calls which contain infrasonic frequencies.
Historically, Sri Lankans have had a long association with elephants and this has been a part of their traditional and religious activities. The ancient Sinhala kings captured and tamed elephants for their ceremonial, cultural and religious pageants and processions.
The first record of elephant capture in Sri Lanka is by Robert Knox in his book, An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon. He states that tame elephants were used to lure elephants from the wild. Selected female elephants would be sent into the jungles to attract the wild male elephants. The King then inspects the elephants and decides which ones are to be kept. They are specially chosen for their intelligence, maturity and obedience. These elephants must be strong, have a large frame and a thick neck. Elephant trappers were called Pannikans or Pannikears. They were expert elephant trappers who were completely fearless.
A tusker called Raja etha (24 years) was offered to the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) July 31, 1937 by Giragama Walawwe Tikiri Banda Mampitiya Disawa. Raja was given the responsibility of carrying the sacred casket at the Esala perahera. Carrying the sacred casket and guarding it was the special duty of Raja. This majestic tusker fulfilled his duties well and always respected the bhikkhus. President J.R. Jayewardene designated Raja as a ‘National treasure’ in recognition of the years of his valuable services to the religion and culture of Sri Lanka.
Raja died on July 16, 1988 aged 75 years. For almost 37 years he offered his services to the Dalada Maligawa. A museum dedicated to Raja is housed within the Temple premises and is home to the stuffed and preserved body of the beloved tusker, Raja.
Panamure is a village in the district of Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa Province and is famous for elephant kraals. The kraal or Ath gala was built around a natural, fresh water spring called Diya Bubula. The first kraal was in 1896 and the last in 1950. Panamure and the natural, fresh water spring Diya Bubula were sited within land belonging to Sir Francis Molamure, a former Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament. The Kraal in 1950 drove 17 elephants including a magnificent young bull. Into a stockade. This huge bull became agitated when the matriarch was noosed and charged all the tame elephants who came to noose him. He was eventually noosed twice but he managed to break free with his strength. He broke free from a wire noose on the third attempt and this made him even more violent. None of the tame elephants dared to approach this violent bull. In the end, a decision was taken to shoot this magnificent bull.
A single rifle shot by a hunter between the eyes killed the young bull. There was so much public anger at this killing that the Governement banned elephant kraals and the hunting and killing of elephants thereafter.
The Sri Lankan elephant has been listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN since 1986. Every year many elephants were killed by people to protect houses and crops. This clash is known as the human-elephant conflict and still continues even today. Though electric fences have been erected to protect land, homes and crops this has not been totally effective.
The elephant conservation strategy of the Department of Wildlife Conservation aims at protecting elephants both within the system of safe areas and outside these areas.
There are two elephant conservation centres, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and the Elephant Transit Home in the Udawalawe National Park. National Parks such as Yala, Lunugamwehera, Wilpattu and Minneriya are sanctuaries for elephants. Minneriya and Kaudulla are famous for elephants and there is an annual great gathering of elephants at Minneriya.
Panu kota one of the last two remaining elephants living in the Sinharaja forest. Human activities have caused endangerment of elephants. Extinction of these animals will create an imbalance in the ecosystem. So, we must educate the public about the importance of elephants.