Stop Elephant Abuse in the Kandy Esala Perahera Procession
Stop Elephant Abuse in the Kandy Esala Perahera Procession
Le problème
Sri Dalada Maligawa members, mahouts and Kandy Esala Perahera organizers,
We are writing on behalf of the OURANOS Project, a network of organisations fighting for wildlife conservation and care. As citizens and wildlife carers, we share a deep consideration for elephants and animal rights. Their mistreatment used for the Kandy Esala Perahera procession, offends the traditional dignity towards these intelligent animals. These majestic creatures should be treated with the respect and dignity they rightfully deserve.
Elephants play a significant role in the ceremonies and processions of the culture in Sri Lanka and Southern Asia. We understand that their symbolic and historical roles have been essential for civilisations and cultures throughout the History, and we do not write this petition to get rid of traditions or cultural festivals. Indeed, each country and people has the right to celebrate their culture, their history and their religion, because it is the testimony of their sovereignty. We have no objection to celebrate important events, and the ceremony dealing with the Tooth of Buddha should be respected.
However, nowadays, Asian elephants are endangered, according to the red list of IUCN, because of ivory trade, poaching and habitats decreasing. Today, elephants are often subject to cruelty and inhumane conditions because of wood carrying and tourism. The mahouts often use elephant crushing (Phajaan) to tread their will. Chains and harmful sticks are used to submit them to their mahouts. As a result, this animal, that never forgets, becomes aggressive towards people : the current tusker, Indi Raja (ඉන්දි රාජා) for example, attacked a mahout in 2004 and some other attacks and disorders have been reported on video. The evidence prove that the elephants do not bear these treatments and cannot deal with both pain during trainings and stress during the procession. These treatments contradict both animal rights precepts as well as the traditional values of respect towards these magnificent animals. The chains, the pain and the stress caused by mahouts and the crowd during the training and the cermony are a danger for the elephants, very sensitive, but also for people when one of them runs for its freedom and because of anger. Tourism is not a reason to hurt endangered species that embody the history, the culture and the tradition of Sri Lankan people !
Moreover, as a nation keeper of the Buddhist principles, Sri Lanka should be a guardian of the Asian Elephant's dignity, not an agent of their exploitation. The mistreatment inflicted upon these cultural icons in the Kandy Esala Perahera procession is a glaring example of animal abuse.
The OURANOS Project kindly urges the Sri Lankan authorities, and the organizers of the Kandy Esala Perahera procession, the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple particularly, to completely cease elephant participation in these events, or at the very least, ensure their wellbeing and treatment aligns with international animal rights standards. We urge them to find alternatives to celebrate the Perahera fesitval without any form of cruelty and without the use and abuse of elephants. Respectful, cruelty-free alternatives must be explored and implemented to uphold the traditions without any harm to the elephants, in order to preserve them in wildlife and protect people from their violence due to bad treatements.
On behalf of the OURANOS Project and its supports, we urge everyone, citizens, wildlife keepers and organizers to join the burst, the Indi Raja operation, to protect the dignity and rights of the elephants in Sri Lanka. By your signature and your voice, free them from pain during the Kandy Esala Perahera procession and beyond !
Please, join us by signing this petition today !
Uniti per Naturam : together, we are stronger !
References :
Elephants attack in kandy esala perahera - 2021
Elephant attack new footage Kandy esala perahera - 2023
Extraordinary elephant perception Joshua M. Plotnika,b,1 and Frans B. M. de Waalc,1
Sent to and supported by the partners of the OURANOS Project :
OURANOS Project - OUR Alliance for kNOwledge and Species
433
Le problème
Sri Dalada Maligawa members, mahouts and Kandy Esala Perahera organizers,
We are writing on behalf of the OURANOS Project, a network of organisations fighting for wildlife conservation and care. As citizens and wildlife carers, we share a deep consideration for elephants and animal rights. Their mistreatment used for the Kandy Esala Perahera procession, offends the traditional dignity towards these intelligent animals. These majestic creatures should be treated with the respect and dignity they rightfully deserve.
Elephants play a significant role in the ceremonies and processions of the culture in Sri Lanka and Southern Asia. We understand that their symbolic and historical roles have been essential for civilisations and cultures throughout the History, and we do not write this petition to get rid of traditions or cultural festivals. Indeed, each country and people has the right to celebrate their culture, their history and their religion, because it is the testimony of their sovereignty. We have no objection to celebrate important events, and the ceremony dealing with the Tooth of Buddha should be respected.
However, nowadays, Asian elephants are endangered, according to the red list of IUCN, because of ivory trade, poaching and habitats decreasing. Today, elephants are often subject to cruelty and inhumane conditions because of wood carrying and tourism. The mahouts often use elephant crushing (Phajaan) to tread their will. Chains and harmful sticks are used to submit them to their mahouts. As a result, this animal, that never forgets, becomes aggressive towards people : the current tusker, Indi Raja (ඉන්දි රාජා) for example, attacked a mahout in 2004 and some other attacks and disorders have been reported on video. The evidence prove that the elephants do not bear these treatments and cannot deal with both pain during trainings and stress during the procession. These treatments contradict both animal rights precepts as well as the traditional values of respect towards these magnificent animals. The chains, the pain and the stress caused by mahouts and the crowd during the training and the cermony are a danger for the elephants, very sensitive, but also for people when one of them runs for its freedom and because of anger. Tourism is not a reason to hurt endangered species that embody the history, the culture and the tradition of Sri Lankan people !
Moreover, as a nation keeper of the Buddhist principles, Sri Lanka should be a guardian of the Asian Elephant's dignity, not an agent of their exploitation. The mistreatment inflicted upon these cultural icons in the Kandy Esala Perahera procession is a glaring example of animal abuse.
The OURANOS Project kindly urges the Sri Lankan authorities, and the organizers of the Kandy Esala Perahera procession, the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple particularly, to completely cease elephant participation in these events, or at the very least, ensure their wellbeing and treatment aligns with international animal rights standards. We urge them to find alternatives to celebrate the Perahera fesitval without any form of cruelty and without the use and abuse of elephants. Respectful, cruelty-free alternatives must be explored and implemented to uphold the traditions without any harm to the elephants, in order to preserve them in wildlife and protect people from their violence due to bad treatements.
On behalf of the OURANOS Project and its supports, we urge everyone, citizens, wildlife keepers and organizers to join the burst, the Indi Raja operation, to protect the dignity and rights of the elephants in Sri Lanka. By your signature and your voice, free them from pain during the Kandy Esala Perahera procession and beyond !
Please, join us by signing this petition today !
Uniti per Naturam : together, we are stronger !
References :
Elephants attack in kandy esala perahera - 2021
Elephant attack new footage Kandy esala perahera - 2023
Extraordinary elephant perception Joshua M. Plotnika,b,1 and Frans B. M. de Waalc,1
Sent to and supported by the partners of the OURANOS Project :
OURANOS Project - OUR Alliance for kNOwledge and Species
433
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Pétition lancée le 20 août 2024