On 7 September, a collective of environmental and animal rights organisations gathered to raise concerns about the decision granted by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court with regards to an ongoing legal procedure into illegal elephant smuggling that took place primarily between 2010 and 2015.

It was provided that since 2015, 34 such elephants, including baby elephants, were taken into custody and held with the DWC and the National Zoos. However, this most recent Court ruling allowed for the release of 14 elephants from the protection of the Departments of National Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to their “so-called original owners”.

However, yesterday, 9 September 2021, at 2.30 p.m. the environmental and animal rights organisations, joined by a legal team, including prominent public interest litigator Ravindranath Dabare, shared that there are certain irregularities in the information presented before the Court and that a petition is currently being prepared to be submitted to appeal this order, which they feel is “against the law”. He provided that following the compilation of all the necessary information, the environmentalists will be filing a writ application in the Court of Appeal.

It was discussed that while the illegal wildlife trade is considered one of the major threats to global biodiversity and has raised concerns around the world, Sri Lanka’s underground activities have been carried out strategically and under the guise of correct proceedings.

Asian elephants have been highly valued by various cultures for use in religious and spiritual contexts as a draft animal, and more recently, as a tourist attraction. Thus, the demand for captive elephants is high. Therefore, it is imperative that this matter be dealt with immediately, and the public must remain vigilant to hold the relevant authorities accountable.

Pledge your voice for this cause ! #savelankanelephants

(Excerpt adopted from themorning.lk)