DISTURBING PHOTOS OF ELEPHANT THAT WENT VIRAL, DIES AFTER '70 YEARS AS A SLAVE’

In sad and shocking case, a 70-year-old elephant in Sri Lanka, whose emaciated body created a row on social media earlier this year, has died.

This news was confirmed by an animal rights charity, which has badly shocked the nation. 

The elephant Tikiri, was among 60 other elephants who have been forced to march at the Perahera festival in Kandy every year.

As per BBC reports, the Save Elephant Foundation (SEF) had posted photos of her in August this year, where they spoke about her mistreatment and lack of food. After the news went viral, Sri Lanka's tourism minister confirmed to BBC that she would not be part of any festival and be taken cared off.

Following that, she was also eventually returned to her keeper. The SEF had also posted pictures of Tikiri, at the Perahera festival with her frail body covered by a colourful costume.  

But the news shocked the nation after Lek Chailert, founder of SEF, shared that Tikiri had passed away. "Tikiri's suffering has ended, her soul is now free. No more harm can come to her," said Chailert in an Instagram post."RIP dear Tikiri.

Never look back to this world so cruel toward you and your friends," the post further added. 

Meanwhile, a spokesman from the Buddhist temple that organises the festival said that Tikiri suffered from a "digestive ailment" that prevented her from putting on weight.

The renowned animal rights group PETA had earlier stated that many elephants in Sri Lanka have been suffering. They also called for stronger enforcement of animal-protection laws.

 

 

 

 

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The sad news is just out tonight that Tikiri passed away this evening. There is both sorrow and relief here. To think of her brings such pain to my heart. That hard service was her life, and not freedom, carries for me a commitment to others who yet suffer. That we could not help her before her eyes would shut forever fosters a renewed courage, and bears a responsibility for us to find safe refuges for all of the captive Giants born under the yoke of Man. What we wished for Tikiri, even a few days of freedom with love and care, we will demand for others. The day that I met Tikiri, her eyes locked with mine, telling me all that I needed to know. Her own fear and anger and sorrow is now part of that longer memory of her kind which should bear us no affection. Tikiri's suffering has ended, her soul is now free. No more harm can come to her. RIP dear Tikiri. Never look back to this world so cruel toward you and your friends. หลังจากที่ล้มครั้งแล้วครั้งเล่า มาตอนเย็นนี้ทิคคิรีก็ได้จากโลกนี้ไปอย่างทุกข์ทรมาน เธอไม่มีโอกาสที่จะได้เห็นอิสรภาพก่อนเธอตาย เธอไม่เคยได้สัมผัสความรักจากมนุษย์ก่อนที่ดวงตาคู่นั้นของเธอจะปิดสนิท วันที่ดิฉันได้พบกับทิคคิรีที่ศรีลังกา และตัดสินใจนำเรื่องของเธอสู่สายตาชาวโลก ดวงตาคู่นั้นของเธอมันบอกทุกอย่างในความรู้สึกที่เธอมี ดิฉันรู้สึกสัมผัสถึงความกลัว โกรธ ความเจ็บปวด และความหมดหวังของเธอ หลับให้สบายนะทิคคิรีวันนี้เป็นอิสระแล้ว ไม่ต้องเป็นทาสใครอีกต่อไป มองไปข้างหน้าอย่าหันหลังกลับมามอง โลกนี้ที่มีแต่การทารุนกรรม เกิดมาอีกทีอย่าเกิดมาเป็นช้างให้คนทารุนกรรมอีก #saveelephantfoundation #bekindtoanimals #bekindtoelephants #elephant

A post shared by Lek Chailert (@lek_chailert) on Sep 24, 2019 at 9:46am PDT