Why Raja became a killer.?
(Another story)
Raja was a performing elephant in the Dehiwela zoo. He was an orphan baby elephant who didn’t have the love of the mother. It didn’t have any illness and was quite healthy. Raja mated “ Namali ” during that it was in zoo. Baby “Jayathu” was born in may 1991. “Namali” and Raja wre over joyed about the baby and wre caring and showed love to their baby they never had. In 1994 March baby “Jayathu” was separated from the mother and father and was send to the elephant orphanage. “ Namal “ and Raja were sad about that decision and to make things worse they wre separated from each other and tied in far away corners of the elephant shed.
Raja become stubborn after that and it was restrained frequently by using the goad. In 1996 “Piyadasa” who looked after Raja was on leave and Raja was not taken for a bath for three days when it should be bathed every day. There was a big wound on the front led and it was infected, In the evening Piyadas removed the chains to take Raja for the elephant performances.
Piyadasa tried to wake Raja using the goad. Raja killed him by crushing his head. To make things worse it was chained and labeled as a killer. Its movement was restricted. That probably increased its frustration and in 1997 December Raja killed another mahout called Gunadasa.
In August 1996 I wrote a letter to the relevant authorities that elephants in the zoological garden should be allowed to enjoy freedom in a spacious place and till then Baby Nona and Bandula the oldest elephants of the zoo should retire from performing and sent to the elephant orphanage. Nine month later he got a letter informing him that because of lack of space and for the security of visitors elephants have to be tied by their legs. Then the zoo Director decides to sell Raja by public auction. Local News paper published articles opposing that.
Then zoo Director informed that they would send Raja to Pinnawela elephant orphanage. Just after celebration of 50 year of Independence of Sri Lanaka the zoo director sold Raja by public auction.
After this auction, a petitioner filed a case in the court of appeal in March 1998 asking for a writ to nullify the sale of Raja and get it back to the zoo. The zoo Director and buyer filed objections. While the case was pending the two parties came to settlement.
In the settlement, the Director agreed that all future disposal of elephants from institutions under his control shat be done only one the basis of two pre-qualifications. The bidders must establish they have adequate financial resources to support the elephant and should also have and adequate extent of land to keep such an elephant. The funniest part is that the financial resources and extent of land would be determined by the Director.
The application for a writ was withdrawn as a vet surgeon and the petitioner were satisfied on the health of Raja who was with the new owner.
From Raja’s point of view he lost his wife son and his herd forever. The only consolation is that the elephant would not be doing ridiculous performance for rest of his life.
In June 1998 I appealed to he ombudsman about the chaining of elephants of the zoo. Association of Veterinarians for animal rights sent a letter to the zoo Director asking not to chain the elephants unless it is necessary for medical reason and to eliminate elephant performance.
The zoo Director didn’t agree with that observations that if there was freedom for the elephant, death of the mahout could not have occurred.
All these offers lack the knowledge to prepare a good plan to meet the needs of the future of the animals and have interest or sympathy either.
By – Mr Kala santha. ( From Zoo to your Garden )
