Kandy Esala Perahera Faces Scrutiny Over Elephant Welfare Concerns

[{"selector":"#anim-8fca2370-991d-47fe-acef-e3eae2616b0f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2eb3e98f-f69e-4824-881d-d9c6afb424bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32c8ea74-30e7-4096-8307-9da59bd293d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba44b1ac-b7a0-450d-b8b3-4f56affc9291","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.30098%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kandy Esala Perahera Faces Scrutiny Over Elephant Welfare Concerns Govind Tekale

Sri Lankan festival Kandy Esala Perahera celebrates the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha with elephant processions.

[{"selector":"#anim-92732f60-8ee8-4fe8-b189-02b83baf4699","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fd63810-c013-4af6-82e6-0d2caabe17d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f048ba30-94ae-4406-aaf0-6692462dbbfe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa621251-3ef1-4e5c-be8e-a534f2e96474","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5a74560-c304-4924-949c-3b5c45eae865","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ashan96 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Festival features traditional dancers, drummers, and decorated elephants in cultural processions.

[{"selector":"#anim-191dfa0f-d5fe-43d1-a7d5-6c91d6a0ac57","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45b20f10-c807-4116-91a0-fb704f3394ae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.52137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0c54172-64d2-4783-8c40-668b86b260b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77f2401a-5ced-4a34-9936-29501ec15b66","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34d2d55b-73b2-4cc7-a018-221f2fa518d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Diganta Talukdar (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Bright lights, thunderous drums, and massive crowds create stressful conditions for participating elephants.

[{"selector":"#anim-e0e8d29d-fb78-4c98-b4b4-1151904e5ba6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0fbffc6-1d42-417e-b49a-87bba3303db1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d309b155-c399-49fa-a99a-63ce3a4f659f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4744fdc0-1f20-4851-a869-2ea27e39084b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6946d473-616e-4baf-b80b-cd1ae33c7ec8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Rajesh Kakkanatt (CC BY-SA 3.0)

One elephant, overwhelmed by festival conditions, panicked and stomped on people while trying to flee.

[{"selector":"#anim-8fa016a4-bb1b-4d8e-807a-86d26b5b71a2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-306b04ad-e9ab-4128-a2af-4f082f34c348","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.52137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da085e28-1af3-4716-bf04-4d02ad5c7d81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8801df31-e7a9-4991-9ab1-a8ce40e331a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ed62a1f-2703-444e-920c-de35f88a0077","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Augustus Binu (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Animal welfare concerns focus on elephants' exposure to loud noises, crowds, and bright lights.

[{"selector":"#anim-ff449f77-f224-44c3-a4cd-f0349e70614e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17091e1a-8486-42f2-954d-4c57096307ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a846fa2-0e33-48b0-abe6-38dcce645cc5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83512e0b-65ac-4c93-b7ff-639382161e4b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a71d66cd-567d-4217-af66-925429ca69fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Kjrajesh (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Decorated elephants show signs of stress and anxiety during these high-intensity festival environments.

[{"selector":"#anim-cedcda74-5d91-4854-a751-2594fa8a904a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4dc34662-ef87-4523-b6d4-a629514efcde","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.52137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7141aa04-2947-4f43-a0e5-66d2ca6e1a58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffcd3469-cc65-481b-8a77-e4f3376e75ac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8701275-a97d-4e3a-a837-4ca7d54b3f95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ananthu Padmasree (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Traditional practice faces increasing scrutiny over animal welfare and public safety concerns.

[{"selector":"#anim-04246c41-b05b-46d4-b421-63d17bdf271a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-919d5914-69db-4689-95f3-5b2c88c5d957","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84a4aebd-a2ac-4d3a-9a56-6e7d44a06c3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-026f43bf-b0fe-43f4-a784-503b6300a57b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b15c891-ccd0-4c92-a5d0-6e52a8774da6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ezeu (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Growing awareness emerges about ethical implications of using elephants in crowded festival settings.

[{"selector":"#anim-fcd11c22-e731-4c89-954c-504a360a4600","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82710d63-ab7e-4ad7-87e9-66be8f9b0d5f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.52137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8b35229-7ce0-4fe8-ab17-960de723f8db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8955feb5-3462-4bb3-8f91-7e3eba285c5e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3270d53-7e19-4bd2-994b-8d38c6f5d57a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Rameshng (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Cultural celebration raises questions about balancing tradition with animal and public welfare.

[{"selector":"#anim-df02f6a1-81ef-4d80-8110-41691c4792a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5fa800b6-5ffe-4ff8-a37b-88bf194d7c55","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82a55ad1-2a2c-445a-b1aa-4396e6cc2940","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72510e8a-0146-4fba-bc07-0273e00c665a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2000ad11-e08e-4a5d-8b6b-2e6928b050f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ashan96 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-948c7a38-4529-4cf8-a5a3-f849a794f512","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02d13eda-366c-476d-b68e-34bd207f2e3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efd1e6ab-f9ed-4915-83f5-9aadac51a620","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-133d03c4-6804-496b-b64b-3667cbd3a3c2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10570df1-cccb-4a56-8956-20fbc65eee5b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kerala Elephant Rampage: 1 Dead, 17 Injured in Festival Chaos Learn more