On the eve of World Elephant Day, something truly amazing happened. A 70-year-old Sri Lankan elephant called Tikiri was spared. Just one look at her emaciated body, and it’s evident that she has suffered animal abuse. Starvation, it appears, but it’s impossible to know for how long.
But thanks to one woman, Tikiri finally has something to look forward to: better health and sitting on the sidelines away from another scary, smoky, light-filled 10-day series of parades known as Esala Perahera. (1)
It’s all thanks to animal advocate Lek Chailert. She made a post on Facebook that went viral, complete with a photo of a man riding Tikiri in full parade garb, her emaciated body hidden. In another photo with no costume, we see a horrifically thin and frail-looking Tikiri. (2)
Who is Lek Chailert?
This magnificent woman is the founder of Save Elephant Foundation. Her story on the official Save Elephant website says that she was born in 1961 in Baan Lao, a small village in the hills outside of Chiang Mai Thailand. During her childhood she spent a lot of time with animals, thanks to her grandfather being the village shaman.
He allowed Lek to be part of his work and let her participate in healing the animals. She discovered a love for saving animals, and the rest is history, being written in real-time. (3)
What Is The Esala Perahera (Festival Of The Tooth)?
The 10-day festival is run by the Temple of the Tooth, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the country. Their official website tells us it’s a lively festival featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, and lavishly decorated elephants. Normally they celebrate in July or August because that is when the Buddha is said to have begun teaching, soon after attaining full enlightenment. (4)
From Lek’s Facebook post: “Tikiri joins in the parade early every evening until late at night every night for 10 consecutive nights, amidst the noise, the fireworks, and smoke,” Chailert wrote in the post. “No one sees her bony body or her weakened condition because of her costume. No one sees the tears in her eyes … no one sees her difficulty to step as her legs are short shackled while she walks.” (2)
Pradeep Nilanga Dela, the chief custodian of the Temple of the Tooth, says “Tikiri is being treated” as she has a “medical condition” that the owner plans to address. (1)
And Who Exactly Is the Owner?
It is very typical for wealthy Sri Lankans to keep elephants as pets, and the unnamed man said Tikiri has marched in every one of the parades since she was five years old. He says he put her in the parade for religious reasons: suffering from a stomach condition for the last six months, he promised his god that she would walk in the parade if she got better.
The man says he has spent the equivalent of $9,000 on medication to address the animal’s stomach issues. (1)
Does he feel that the money spent was sufficient, so she must be better? It’s hard to say.
Sri Lanka is definitely in the crosshairs of several animal rights groups. Its treatment of elephants, including how they’re used in the Esala Perahera festival, is horrific. This is just one animal’s story; can you imagine a nation full of Tikiris? Unfortunately, it’s a reality. And one that should be kept under close watch, as Asian elephants have been an endangered species since 1986. (5)
