No more seeing pink elephants for Sri Lanka’s mahouts.
The South Asian country is upgrading animal protections to include a ban on drunk driving by elephant riders.
“The person who owns or has the custody of such elephants shall ensure that the mahout is not consuming any liquor or any harmful drug while employed,” Wildlife Protection Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake said on Thursday, referring to the nation’s industry of elephant riders, Agence France-Presse reported.
The new laws will also ensure the heavily poached pachyderms are better cared for by their keepers, as new photo and DNA identity cards will be registered to every domesticated elephant, which also will receive medical check-ups every six months.
Elephants are prized by the wealthy in the country and reviled by many in rural areas who come into conflict with the powerful creature. There are about 200 domesticated elephants in the country, as well as an estimated 7,500 roaming the wild.
Sri Lanka’s new animal protections will see that all domesticated elephants are registered with biometric identity cards and receive medical checkups every six months. AFP via Getty ImagesUnder the new legislation, elephant workdays will be capped at four hours per day, while night work is now prohibited. Aimed especially at tourist attractions, the wildlife protection ministry of Sri Lanka has said that no more than four people can ride the elephant at once and they must be seated on a padded saddle — for the elephant’s comfort.
The animals will also no longer be used in film or media, except by state productions and under the supervision of veterinarians.
Meanwhile, baby elephants will no longer be allowed for work of any kind, including cultural events and holidays, and they cannot be separated from their mother for any reason other than medical necessity.
An elephant’s workday will now end after four hours, while juveniles will no longer be permitted to work for any reason, including cultural celebrations. AFP via Getty ImagesViolators could face up to three years in prison and have their elephants seized by the government.
More than 40 baby elephants were stolen from the tropical island nation’s national parks during the past 15 years, according to Agence France-Presse. Capturing or killing wild elephants is an offense punishable by death in Sri Lanka, although it rarely happens.
In 2019, the country counted 361 deaths among elephants, according to a BBC report last year, 85% of which can be attributed to human activity.
