As the police of the island state in the Indian Ocean announced on Sunday, the accident occurred the day before in Kataragama, around 280 kilometers south of the capital Colombo. Video footage showed a keeper pulling the apparently very excited procession elephant by its tail in order to keep it under control.
But this does not work: the animal runs amok and injures 13 people fleeing from it. The injured were all taken to hospital but have since been released, police said. The elephant was one of several that took part in the Hindu procession completely wrapped in red, blue and gold cloaks.
Elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka. Animal rights activists repeatedly criticize their widespread use in temple ceremonies, and laws against animal cruelty are rarely enforced.
200 domesticated elephants
There have already been several cases in which the animals got out of control during parades with loud music and fireworks. In August last year, for example, dozens of pilgrims jumped into a lake in the city of Kandy, which is also very popular with tourists, to escape five excited young elephants. Several people were injured.
According to official figures, there are around 200 domesticated elephants in Sri Lanka, and around 7,500 in the wild. The government has banned the capture of wild elephants, but dozens of calves have been stolen in recent years – often after their mothers have been killed by the kidnappers.
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Source: Nachrichten
