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Where it's at
One of the most popular attractions in Sri Lanka is the Pinnewala
Elephant Orphanage. Situated in the Hill Country
near Kegalle, it was set up to save abandoned or orphaned
wild elephants. They are controlled by their mahouts
(keepers), who ensure they are fed at the right times and
don't endanger anyone. Comfortingly however, it is the type
of place that if an elephant steps on your foot, you're likely
to walk away with a smile.
If you want to catch the elephants having their daily bath
visit from 10am to noon and from 2 to 4 PM. Meal times are
at 9:15am, 1.15 and 5pm. Nearly all of the elephants become
working elephants once they have grown up. Occasionally, one
of the older female elephants produces a baby to add to the
herd.
Elephant facts
The Asian elephant is a lot smaller then the African elephant
with a rounder back and smaller ears. It also has one 'lip'
rather than two on the tip of its trunk and four rather than
three nails on its hind feet. In Sri Lanka, most females and
many males are tusk less. Asian elephants congregate in family
groups of up to 10 led by an adult female. Males, banished
from the family group upon maturity, may form bachelor herds.
Elephants retire in the heat of the day to digest the 200kg
of vegetable matter which they consume nightly.
The curse of the elephant
Major Thomas William Rogers, a former A. G. A. and District
Judge of Badulla, was an elephant hunter and is credited with
killing one thousand five hundred elephants within the short
span of four years. Peasants and especially the farmers during
this time (1840's) were grateful to Rogers as herds of elephants
caused major destruction on grain laden fields and the huts
of many peasants, causing numerous deaths.
One of the elephants that Major Roger's killed was from the
sacred area of Kataragama. An old patriarch had warned
him that he had done wrong in killing this elephant within
the sacred boundaries of one of Lanka's holiest citadels and
that he should beware of a tragic death. After taking shelter,
when Roger's stepped outside one thundery night, onlookers
suddenly saw a flash of lightning and saw the brave major
fall face forwards. On this night, 7th June 1845, Rogers was
struck to death by lightening and locals belief it was a curse.
Killing a man is a sin but to kill an elephant is like killing
seven men. In Nuwara Eliya lies the tomb of Rogers.
Tradition had it that lightning struck again on his very tomb,
and if you visit now, you may even see the crack where the
lightning struck. |
