Letters to the Editor | Sunday Observer

Letters to the Editor

28 October, 2018

Secret behind the series of deaths of pachyderms

Sri Lanka is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Protection of nature means protection of everything gifted by nature, so that nature and animal life cannot be separated. The natural beauty of this country is being diminished in quality and extent and bear no comparison to what they were ten years ago. The indigenous tropical rainforests have disappeared. There is only one worthwhile remnant, namely the Sinharaja Forest which is now threatened by mechanised logging. The forests are being ruthlessly destroyed.

Wildlife is going through the same process. Our largest land mammal, the largest in the world is being shot and wounded and allowed to munch “hakkapatas” (a kind of amunition) inserted into a jak-fruit or a sugar cane stem. When it explodes, the entire jaw of the animal is burnt. The other factor lies in the hands of the locomotive drivers who run over three to four pachyderms within a day or two.

It is regrettable to note that a family of elephants in the Gal Oya area had been run over by the train as the driver had not taken steps to keep to the proper speed limit. A chain of such incidents have been reported in the past few days on the same route, in the same area. If it is an act of avenging the government or the Minister of Transport, it is highly ignoble on the part of the locomotive drivers of their carelessness to have acted so causing severe damage to a family of pachyderms. The drivers must know that taking the lives of a family of four noble creatures is a grave act punishable under the karmic flow.

If by chance these pachyderms had to live with deep-cuts and wounds, they would have to suffer great pain. The magnificent animal that lives as long as man looks after its offsprings shows love and protection for them. It has such intelligence that it can be trained to work for man and it provides endless pleasure for those who watch its movements, both in the wilds and in captivity.

Today the tourists who come from frosty climes have formed the habit of watching the pleasurable pachyderms who live both in the jungles and in captivity. So, our feelings must be with them in the last remaining jungle habitat. The Sri Lankan Government earns foreign exchange by getting the tourists to view those magnificent creatures.

- Dharma Kaviraj

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