Cruelty towards animals in a so-called righteous world

The incumbent government has been scrutinised for its shortsighted efforts to revive an injured tusker who had been ailing inside a mud pit for several days.

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The tusker identified as ‘Bhatiya’ had suffered a gunshot injury in its front leg and collapsed near the Polpithigama lake bund in early February. The injured tusker is around 30-35 years old and the Nikaweratiya Wildlife Officials were the first to inform authorities about this tusker.

Treatment had ultimately begun in May, after a lapse of two months by which time the elephant had collapsed. Successive efforts to treat the elephant proved futile and officials representing the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) were continuously criticised for their inefficiency. As a result of being submerged in a mud pit for a prolonged period of time, the sole of its left foot had also come off.

Subsequently the Sri Lanka Army and animal rights activists had to come to the rescue of this tusker who was lifted in a rather careless manner and taken to a nearby location. It is suspected that the elephant has sustained multiple injuries to it’s trunk, brain and other organs and is finding it difficult to feed on its own.