Sri Lanka: Elephants to Receive Biometric ID Cards
Sri Lanka is introducing biometric ID cards for elephants. A new animal welfare law regulates the work, keeping, and protection of the animals.
Many wealthy Sri Lankans — including Buddhist monks — keep elephants as pets.
Among other things, they use them to display their wealth. However, complaints about mistreatment and animal cruelty are widespread.
Biometric ID Cards for Elephants
The authorities now intend to equip captive elephants with their own biometric ID cards and, under a sweeping new animal welfare law, prohibit their riders from drinking while working.
The new measures aim to protect the welfare of wild animals and include stricter regulations for working elephants, as well as a daily two-and-a-half-hour bath for each animal.
According to official records, there are approximately 200 domesticated elephants in the South Asian country, while the wild population is estimated at around 7,500 animals.
Stricter Regulations for Working Elephants
The new animal welfare law requires all animal owners to ensure that animals in their care have new photo ID cards with a DNA stamp. The law also contains several regulations for working elephants.
Baby elephants may no longer be used for work — including at cultural events — and they may not be separated from their mothers.
Forest elephants may not work for more than four hours a day, and night work is prohibited.
There are also new restrictions for the tourism industry: from now on, no more than four people may ride an elephant at the same time, and they must sit on a well-padded saddle.
Use in films is prohibited, except in state productions under strict veterinary supervision, and their riders may not drink while working.
«The person who owns such elephants or has supervision over them must ensure that the mahout (rider) does not consume alcohol or other harmful drugs while working», said Wildlife Protection Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayaka in an announcement dated 19.8.2021.
Owners must send their animals for a medical examination every six months.
Anyone who violates the new law must expect their elephant to be taken into state custody and faces a three-year prison sentence.
The capture of wild elephants is a criminal offence in Sri Lanka punishable by the death penalty, but prosecutions are rare.
Animal welfare advocates and elephant experts have claimed that more than 40 baby elephants have been stolen from national wildlife parks in the past 15 years.
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