The story of Tikiri the elephant outraged animal rights groups all over the world after it emerged her emaciated body was being hidden by a colourful costume.
JOE ROBERTS: ‘A 70-year-old elephant who was forced to parade through the streets at a religious festival has died, its keeper has confirmed. The story of Tikiri the elephant outraged animal rights groups all over the world after it emerged her emaciated body was being hidden by a colourful costume. More disturbing photos showed her collapsed on the ground after the annual Esala Perahera, a Buddhist festival in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
She was one of around 60 elephants that marched for days on end so tourists and locals can feel ‘blessed’. Following an outcry by activists Tikiri was returned to her keeper in Rambukkana, a village close to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. But it appears the ordeal had taken too much of a toll on her health…
A source said the ‘poor girl spent her life as a slave’, adding: ‘We have been fighting for her and there was hope, but now this. ‘It’s just terrible.’ Earlier this month, Lek Chailert, who founded the Save Elephant Foundation in northern Thailand, shared photos of Tikiri after she was sent back to her owner.
The activist asked why Tikiri’s legs were still being chained together. She wrote: ‘She is sick. She is old. She is weak. Why is she still tied both legs front and back? ‘Surely she deserves better. Is it fear of her from a lifetime of abuse? ‘Is there no emotional reciprocity, having spent a lifetime with her?’. SOURCE…
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