A six year-old elephant calf donated to New Zealand

12 April 2015 07:37 am - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A female elephant calf named Anjalee – a resident of the Pinnawala elephant orphanage has been given to new Zealand’s Auckland zoo in honor of an exchange agreement made between the two countries.

The six year-old elephant calf had braved a 12-hour flight from Sri Lanka to Auckland and is currently being kept in quarantine in Niue before being transported to the zoo to keep company to its other elephant, Burma.

Environmental lawyer and activist, Jagath Gunawardena commenting on the donation of the animal said, “Section 55 of the Fauna and Flora Ordinance states very clearly that a donation of an animal to another country should be carried out as an exchange between two national zoological gardens. So the important question to ask in this instance is whether the Auckland zoo has been certified as a national zoological garden? And on what basis was this animal exchanged? What is Sri Lanka getting in return?”

He also stressed on the fact that since elephants are animals that live in herds, separating her from the environs that she is used to, will result in major psychological impacts on her health that would be detrimental for her wellbeing.

Deputy Wildlife Minister Wasantha Senanayake said although he is personally opposed to the exportation of elephants, they proceeded with the exchange as it was an agreement made between the countries’ heads of state.

“The agreement to exchange this elephant calf in return of technical assistance had been made during the CHOGM period between former President Rajapaksa and the New Zealand Prime Minister,” the Minister said.

However, he said that he admits that irrelevant of whether it’s an elephant sent to the Auckland zoo or kept in captivity in Sri Lanka, the animal undergoes tremendous mental pressure due to being separated from its herd.

“I personally believe we should never export elephants. India introduced a law which doesn’t allow the exportation of Indian elephants and I think we too should adopt a similar policy. But it should be noted that presently, it’s legal to export a tame, second generation elephant,” he said.

The Minister went on to state that he is currently discussing with some of the groups that are engaged in the exportation of elephants, to create a voice to discourage them from exporting the local elephants. (Lakna Paranamanna)

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Comments - 17

Gon Aliya Sunday, 12 April 2015 09:20 PM

Is this to memorise our disastrous WC in NZ ?

gayan Tuesday, 14 April 2015 02:29 AM

Keep the elephant and send the politician instead.

G.M. jayawardena Tuesday, 14 April 2015 12:17 AM

The donated one was on chains and was suffering.. at least they may look after it without chaining and of course better than we do ...Its shame that we Srilankan do not care these majestic animals.. We torture them and inflict unbearable injuries with explosives (hakkapatus) and let them die in great pain... This reminds me one recent incident that one girl died from the explosives that her father used to kill wild animals...... I would rather be happier to see them getting extinct or to transport them to another country like New Zealand where they can live up to their life span than suffering in Srilanka....

Save Stringer Monday, 13 April 2015 08:24 AM

on behalf of my 10 grand children, and the hundreds of thousands of other children who will benefit from this wonderful nation-to-nation gift, sincere thanks.

indeewara Monday, 13 April 2015 08:22 AM

i wonder it will die from freezing

Aba Jayasekera Monday, 13 April 2015 07:35 AM

I see no reason why elephants should not be exported to foreign zoos. The elephant is also referred to as a pachyderm, meaning "thick skin" so they can withstand extreme weather. If necessary they could be provided with air conditioning.Foreign countries too should be given the chance of seeing our majestic elephant. My only fear is that a single elephant may feel lonely. I believe we must export at least three to each zoo.

S.P.RAMKUMAR Monday, 13 April 2015 07:28 AM

In return we have request New Zealand to donor their native animals and birds.

shek Monday, 13 April 2015 01:06 AM

lucky elephant flying to aukland. lol.. via DM Android App

Shan Sunday, 12 April 2015 10:24 PM

This is not a good move. If at all the elephants are exported, then export at least two; so that the psychological trauma they go through will be lesser.

ANTON Sunday, 12 April 2015 01:25 PM

AY...... LANKAAWEY UN KALUDA ........... WHO MAKE THESE F....... LAW RULES.

Bala Sunday, 12 April 2015 06:42 PM

She is in good hands. "We were so determined to make sure we got the right elephant in the right circumstances.Quote.Then it took a lot of work... with the Sri Lankan government, and indeed the Sri Lankan elephant orphanage staff, just to make sure they have confidence in us just as much as we have confidence in the elephant.Coers spent about six months at Pinnawala working with Anjalee to make sure she would be suitable for 32-year-old matriarch Burma, and introducing her to Auckland Zoo ways.The zoo has a free-contact elephant programme which is very different to Pinnawala, where Sri Lankan mahouts -handlers - use traditional practices.

MightyAnt Sunday, 12 April 2015 03:02 PM

Totally agree stop the export of this great animal. As for New Zealand, they look after these animals well. I can remember when a little baby elephant born in an Australian zoo accidently fell in to a pool it was headline on TV.

Elephant House Sunday, 12 April 2015 02:06 PM

@ Jagath Gunawardena. Give it a rest will ya!

Bob Harris Sunday, 12 April 2015 01:43 PM

May you be informed by this article which indicates the animal is doing perfectly well and enjoying the freedom from the Pinnawalla prison camp where they are treated worse than dogs.http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/67699732/anjalee-the-elephant-auckland-zookeeper-has-spent-6-months-to-get-her-here

Vidya Ahayagunawardena Sunday, 12 April 2015 01:42 PM

This must be stop. Need to amend the law immediately and save our remaining precious, prestige and majestic elephant of Sri Lanka. They should be in the wild not under the human custody at any point. Buddha never preached to keep elephants at the temples.

Shan Sunday, 12 April 2015 01:34 PM

OMG. This will be a terrible pain for the poor animal to bear for years and years. Elephants have a very good memory.

Remus Sunday, 12 April 2015 01:30 PM

Breaking the emotional bonds of an innocent animal is cruelty. You should have donated at least a pair. FYI: On April 17, the Indian Supreme Court is likely to ban owning and donating elephants in India.

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A six year-old elephant calf donated to New Zealand

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