Sri Lankans have been associated with elephants for many centuries according to history. This largest living animal walking the Earth has been very important to our little island nation. During the reign of the ancient kings, over 2,000 years ago, elephants were caught, tamed and used in large numbers for construction work.
Sri Lankan elephants were also used by our ancient kings in the various wars they fought during that time. Large palaces, temples and vast reservoirs had been built with the aid of elephants. Originally elephants roamed the forests all over the country.
One of the significant facts about Sri Lankan or Asian elephants is that they are used for ‘ceremonial’ occasions in our country and are kept in temples too. Elephants are always seen at religious peraheras or processions islandwide.
The famous ‘Dalada Perahera’ and the ‘Maligawa Tusker’ closely associated with Sri Lanka for a very long time is a part of our rich heritage. It has become a tradition that our elephants bear the Dalada Karunduwa’ which enshrines the Sacred Tooth Relic. Raja who first carried it became a legend.
Yala sanctuary has a large number of elephants. At the ‘Pinnawela’ Elephant Orphanage too many of the orphaned and injured elephants are well looked after.
Elephants as the largest mammals that walk the earth need to be protected , but there are wild elephants who have become a threat to the lives of many innocent people living in remote areas of the country.
The electronic and print media often reports of situations where elephants have harmed people. Precautions have been taken by the authorities to overcome this elephant-man conflict, but they have not solved the problem.
Sri Lankan elephants are also gifted to other countries .
No comments:
Post a Comment