An elephant panicked during a religious ceremony in Sri Lanka, injuring 13 people. A keeper tried to pull the angry animal by its tail to control it, but to no avail.
The accident happened on Saturday in Kataragama, about 280 kilometers south of the capital Colombo. Video footage shows an elephant, completely dressed in red and gold robes, taking part in the Hindu procession. He was one of many four-legged animals and was clearly very excited. A keeper still tries to pull the elephant’s tail and keep him under control. But it doesn’t work.
The animal panics and injures 13 people who try to escape. The injured were all taken to hospital but have since been released, police said.
Here you can see the video of a journalist.
Not an isolated case
Elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka and are often used in temple ceremonies. Organisers rarely follow animal cruelty laws. The animals have in the past gotten out of hand during parades with loud music and fireworks. In August, five agitated young animals injured several people in the city of Kandy. Dozens of pilgrims fled into a lake to escape.
According to official information, there are about 200 domesticated elephants in Sri Lanka, plus about 7,500 in the wild. Capturing wild elephants is generally prohibited, but it does happen. Often the kidnappers kill the mothers of the calves beforehand.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
