Truth and falsehood about Tikiri the female elephant about whom animal cruelty is spoken about

Truth and falsehood about Tikiri the female elephant about whom animal cruelty is spoken about 

After walking the streets for one day the 70 year old female tusker called Tikiri it was announced that it would no longer walk the streets in the Vishnu devala perahera anymore. When this news flashed across social media of photos of Tikiri being displayed across social media with an old-aged look with its skeleton popping out with attached comments about 'animal cruelty'. Though at first glance this accusation has cropped up, the situation
has been explained by now to the effect that it is something different. 

Here is one comment by one person. "This Tikiri is a 70 year old she-elephant who is sick. She is one of the 60 elephants who is scheduled to serve proceedings in the perahera this time. Tikiri would travel the streets in the perahera every day from evening till midnight. Every day she used to walk kilometres on end in the nights amidst fire, smoke and noise with the act of blessing people during the perahera. Because of her costume nobody gets the chance of noticing her bony structure and her feeble condition. None is witness to the tears in her eyes which was the result of wounds that resulted from the brilliance of electric bulbs which beautify her mask. No one sees the difficulty of her steps in walking because her legs  are As chained. 

As long as somebody's faith or belief does not become a hindrance or harm to somebody ... that person , has the right to enjoy his or her belief. But on the other hand if another life is subjected to suffering; how can this be considered as a blessing or an act of holiness? Affection, refraining from causing harm, mercy and compassion and following such a path ... is Buddha's path. This is the time to follow those steps.

However, Dr. Tharindu has addressed his opinion to the media that Tikiri being attached to the perahera is not something that happened with compulsion and that the appearance of her body and healthiness are two different things. Mr. Thillekerathna of Kegalle who provides elephants for over a period of 50 years and who incidentally is the master of Tikiri has informed that is looking after the elephant with care and that necessary medical attention is given to her and that her body has degenerated because of weakness in absorption of food after which she is being treated. But, Dr. Tharindu has said that her feebleness has not placed her in a sick condition as such. 

Tikiri incidentally is not an elephant of Dalada Maligawa nor is connected to the Dalada perahera; but was initially attached to the Vishnu Devala perahera. It was after that Tikiri who has undergone an experience of of over 100 peraheras later on became connected to the Dalada perahera. 

Though carrying a worn out body structure, it is the medical opinion that Tikiri is an elephant free from sickness. All elephants who take part in the Kandy perahera are examined three times a day before the perahera by a team of veterinary surgeons including professor Ashoka Dangolla while the elephants concerned are included in the perahera on the basis of the report submitted after an examination of their healthiness and mental condition. Even in this case Tikiri was confirmed as an elephant who is free from any sickness although she carries a deteriorated body. 

However after the first walk on the streets Basnayaka Nilame and of Vishnu Devala and Tikiri's master have decided not to join her in the perahera anymore. The reason for that is a vow made by Tikir's master is to be fulfilled and that Tikiri is to walk the streets only on the frst day of the perahera, it was reported. 

Elephant Menike who passed away about five years ago had participated in the perahera till she was 93 years of age while Nedungamuwa Raja who did not turn up in Kandy because of her mating season is in fact passing through her 69th year and is usually attached to the perahera. The video carrying the explanation of the true situation of Tikiri by Dr. Tharindu, from below