Panicked Elephant Injures 13 at Colombo Festival

News Desk

Colombo: A Hindu religious festival in Sri Lanka turned chaotic when an elephant in the procession panicked, causing 13 people to be injured as they fled, police reported on Sunday.

Video footage shared on social media captured the distressing scene, showing one of the elephant’s keepers desperately trying to control the agitated animal by pulling its tail.

Screaming devotees, who had lined the street to watch the parade, were seen rushing to escape the sudden chaos.

The parade featured elephants adorned in red, blue, and gold robes, moving to the sound of clanging cymbals, creating a vibrant yet volatile atmosphere.

The incident occurred in Kataragama, located 280 kilometers (175 miles) south of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.

Thirteen individuals were taken to a local hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries. Fortunately, a spokesman for the state-run Kataragama hospital confirmed that all the injured had been discharged by Sunday, the day after the incident.

Elephants hold sacred status in Sri Lanka, yet the country’s animal cruelty laws are seldom enforced, leading to frequent criticisms from animal rights groups regarding the use of elephants in temple ceremonies.

These majestic animals are often subjected to stressful environments filled with loud music and fireworks, leading to instances of panic and chaos.

This is not an isolated incident. In August 2023, pilgrims in Kandy jumped into a lake to escape five agitated young elephants, resulting in several injuries and one hospitalization. Similarly, in 2019, 17 people were injured when elephants ran amok during a temple festival in Colombo.

Sri Lanka is home to approximately 200 domesticated elephants and a wild population of around 7,500. Despite a government ban on capturing wild elephants, illegal poaching continues, with many calves being stolen after their mothers are killed.

The latest incident underscores the urgent need for better enforcement of animal protection laws and reconsideration of using elephants in such ceremonies to prevent further harm to both humans and animals.