Elephant calf sacrificed for President’s ‘Prana Pooja’
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Thursday, 11 August 2011 18:40
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An elephant calf has died in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on the 9th. The calf had been born on 16th January to the she elephant called ‘Lasanda.’ However, this elephant mother had been separated from its calf on a request by the President and was offered to Vishnu Temple at Devinuwara.
The calf, saddened by the separation from its mother, had refused to consume milk given to it instead of its mother’s milk. As a result the calf developed diarrhea and died due to dehydration say officials of the elephant Orphanage.
Meanwhile, the she elephant ‘Lasanda’ has been offered to Vishnu Temple to fulfill a ‘Prana Pooja’ (life offering), an offering that is made to fulfill certain requirements say astrologists. This vow is fulfilled by offering a she elephant that has milk in its udder to Vishnu Temple.
The President, to avoid the public disapproval, stated to the country that he offered an elephant calf to the temple. (This was stated in banners displayed for the ceremony.) This was given publicity through the media as well. However, the photographs we publish here show that the President offered not a calf but ‘Lasanda,’ an adult elephant.
There have been several such offerings of elephants to temples and other religious places, despite opposition by the public, during the Mahinda Rajapakse administration. Already the Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife has stated that 300 elephants and calves would be given to religious places after the ongoing census of elephants for which all environmental organizations have opposed. Considering the incident that lead to the death of the elephant calf it could be presumed that these 300 elephants and calves are given to religious places to fulfill a vow.
However, the thirst of the so-called leaders to make various offerings and fulfill vows has become a threat to the elephants of Sri Lanka. Hence, we believe that it is the responsibility of all to oppose the elephant massacre that is being carried out uninterruptedly at present.