STOP BABY TUSKER "ISIRA" FROM BEING TAKEN FROM A HERD IN HIS PRESENT CHAIN-FREE LIFE
-- FOR CAPTIVE ABUSE
Petition:
His Excellency, President of Sri Lanka
Minister of Wildlife and Tourism
Secretary, Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism
Director, Department of National Zoological Gardens
Baby tusker, "Isira", still a mere 7 year old juvenile lives chain-free among a happy herd of elephants in a safe and healthy environment at the Ridiyagama Safari Park, managed by the Department of National Zoological Gardens (DNZG). You may be aware that the hopes for baby tuskers, "Sindu" and "Raju" born at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, to contribute to Sri Lanka's unique genetic pool of tuskers for the future, were shattered with the trauma they were made to endure, when they were abducted from Pinnawala, and is what some captive elephant owners and politicians shamelessly intend for baby tusker "Isira" now, with this attempt for political gain!!
This would be a clear violation of the rights of free ranging elephant herds, while baby tusker, "Isira", is in an experimental pilot programme initiated by DNZG in Ridiyagama Safari Park where he presently roams in a free ranging controlled environment with his herd, which is healthy and safe, when compared with any captive "ownership" facility in Sri Lanka, whether at zoos, in private hands or even in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage! This unethical political move further shows that it will hamper this progressive project of the DNZG in rehabilitating elephants living in a herd, in a semi-wild environment.
We therefore, request you to support the petition and email the President of Sri Lanka, the Minister of Wildlife and Tourism, the Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism and Director of the DNZG to prevent isolating baby tusker "Isira" from being taken for captive abuse from his herd and the semi-wild rehabilitation programme he has been a part of!!
