A recent panel discussion on ITN between elephant owners, an official from the Department or Wildlife (currently suspended from duty) and Mrs. Rajakarunanayake from the Animal Protection Group focused on the issue of cruelty to elephants with special emphasis being placed on the Habarana area.

As an ardent lover of elephants, and with due regard for the "experts", I would like to point out a few anomalies and oversights of the panel. May I also take this opportunity to suggest that all the facts and figures be verified in order that the integrity and honesty of journalism be maintained? At the very least, there should be another program to highlight the response to a discussion of this nature.

It is a fact that Mr. Siri De Silva pioneered, Elephant Safaris in partnership with Mr. Palitha Udurawana. To the best of my knowledge, this venture intended to capitalize on the booming tourism industry and catered to high spenders by charging premium prices for a unique product. It was an instant success - unfortunately, greed and the lack of imagination led to a sudden upsurge in the operators of Elephant Safaris.

The result is that elephants are tethered on the roadside by all and sundry with no regard for the animal’s welfare as long as luring passing tourists with the promise of a "Safari" can make a quick profit. Pricing for this unique product has fallen to just Rs. 500 per person, barely enough to cover costs and the elephant is used from morning till night with no respite.

The "expert" elephant lover on the panel should get some of his facts straight. Elephant owners get as much as Rs. 40,000 per month for hiring the animal and the mahout does not get Rs. 400 per day - they get about Rs. 4,000 per month.

Elephant owners no longer love their animals - they are just another commodity and source of income. Look into the eyes of these magnificent animals and all you see is a broken spirit. The avariciousness of owners, lethargy on the part of the Ceylon Tourist Board, uncaring tour operators, political influence and the non-availability of standard licensing procedures has led to the degrading of this magnificent animal.

In a time when all talk of sustaining the environment and sustainable tourism it might be advisable to look deeper into this issue and empower the relevant authorities to take necessary action against all who operate safaris with no regard for the animal that makes it possible.
G. L. Samarasinghe
Kandy