Global singer Cher slams local officials for exploiting twin elephants

7 January 2022 04:10 pm - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Global musician Cher has slammed the Department of National Zoological Gardens including its Director General Shermila Rajapaksa for allegedly exploiting the new baby twin elephants after the 'Rally for Animal Rights and Environment' (RARE) movement shared a video on its Twitter showing the newly born elephants and their mother in Pinnawala being allegedly forced to bathe for media publicity.

The RARE organization in a message on its Twitter account alleged that the new Zoo DG of Sri Lanka, had held a media fiasco with the captive-born elephant twins at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage claiming that the video shared by them showed the elephant mother and nanny being dragged by the ear and forced into the water for her to go live on camera.

The video was shared on Twitter and has received condemnation.

Following the Tweet, international artiste, Cher in a tweet lashed out alleging Shermila Rajapaksa cared nothing for the twin elephants as she was a bureaucrat.

"She is only interested in making money for the zoo, which will exploit them until their premature deaths. Elephants will make the zoo a fortune and then the elephants, the monther nanny will be heartbroken and traumatized forever. Ask the zoo if mom and twins will live together," Cher lashed out.

She further tweeted on the video, "Does this look right, human to anyone? These babies are terrified, they want their mother. Why do people sell their soul for money? Elephants have delicate feet, they have died in zoos. Im just trying to warn you. You can see the confusion and cruelty for yourself," Cher said.

Her third tweet read, "This is a f****** crime. Elephants are like humans. They need family forever. Will there be mahouts/handlers. If so some journalists, citizens must make sure elephants are not made docile by fear of the bullhook. Elephants walk 15 plus miles a day with their family. How many miles a day in the zoo," the singer questioned.

The baby twin elephant births were the first recorded in Sri Lanka's history at the Pinnawala Elephant orphanage and are now about four months old.

They will be named on January 11.

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Comments - 22

joshua Friday, 07 January 2022 04:55 PM

all rajapakshes are same

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 07 January 2022 05:05 PM

Absolutely correct. We are a psychopathic country, that is why many are proud of 1983 riots while they dumb about selling the sovereignty of the country to China. The President releases child killers

banda Friday, 07 January 2022 05:11 PM

Cher must be very sad that they do not have elephants in their country.

Borat Friday, 07 January 2022 05:42 PM

Everyone politicians and down the line sell their souls and more for money . We have become a pariah state and boasts of high moral values as set out by Lord Buddha . Morality is unheard of in SL

mark Friday, 07 January 2022 05:56 PM

this government will exploit any thing they don't care aboute the elephants...,they don't care aboute people they only care aboute how much money they can steal and scam.

Saran Friday, 07 January 2022 05:56 PM

What do you expect in SL Government and public officials are clowns Buddhist temples abuse them and country has next to nothing animal welfare laws

das Friday, 07 January 2022 05:58 PM

Kodos to RARE. Timely action from you. Time to put these tribalistic jokers out of business. The first step is to expose their brutality to the world.

DW Friday, 07 January 2022 06:02 PM

Most Sri Lankans don't really understand Buddhism nor animal cruelty. They think that Buddhism is all about going to the temple, chanting and listening to Buddhidt speeches.

Ali Surathal Friday, 07 January 2022 06:10 PM

Cher should recognise the context of those lucky elephants before making such a big publicity issue out of it. Besides there is so much delicate love and attention given by the carers not fair to criticize

Sandra Friday, 07 January 2022 06:10 PM

Thank you, Cher!

Atheïst Friday, 07 January 2022 06:13 PM

Hopefully Cher has a lot of followers on Twitter and hopefully she will address the hypocrite temples too for elephant abuse.

Lawry Saturday, 08 January 2022 02:12 AM

Cher may have good intentions. But her conclusions are wrong. The elephant orphanage concept is not a zoo concept. Shortcomings do exist. Best is to invite her all costs paid for.

dot Saturday, 08 January 2022 04:32 AM

I too agree with Cher .these babies would have been given by their family in private and in an environment that should be their own ..the 'delicate love' they know best in the herd .with that all healing mud bath too !

Cheers Saturday, 08 January 2022 04:55 AM

Cher should first look at her self taking drugs and singing is real. What's wrong on that elephant bath that is an elephant sanctuary and lit comments on this are either tamil diaspora asdylum seekers overseas or Yahapalanaya jokers

Lankan Saturday, 08 January 2022 05:03 AM

When elephant taskers are killed for pearls as reported on the same page of the newspaper to make a fast buck in this so called Buddhist country it is no surprise due to greed these twin baby elephants are being exploited for the same reason.

Punchi Banda Saturday, 08 January 2022 05:30 AM

If we Buddhists are the chosen ones living in Buddha blessed paradise why only the Theros have full belly’s and the rest are starving

C Perera Saturday, 08 January 2022 01:07 PM

Its nice to see Cher getting involved being a world known drug addict. You need not worry the elephants are well looked after and they won't be drugged. Diaspora have a lot to say about Buddhism as they are aethists.

jayt Saturday, 08 January 2022 04:39 PM

Jews third word war already started this time with corona virus If ask jews if they have global government they say they don't. They jews proved that jews are conspiring against Sri lanka 24 hrs because they have global government and corona virus is to achieve many goals in the world. And Sri lanka is on the top list What more prove you need?

Lawry Saturday, 08 January 2022 06:44 PM

You lost your marbles????

MM Saturday, 08 January 2022 08:40 PM

Jayt - Nobody cares about a bankrupt country like Sri Lanka Jayt, stop living in a dream world. it's only some silly Sri Lankans who think this country is so important.

Dulan de Silva Saturday, 08 January 2022 07:55 PM

Char does not know even the fact that Pinnewela is not a-zoo.and that babies and mum live together

jayt Sunday, 09 January 2022 02:18 AM

Whet I said is self defense, but not harm anybody there several in the world following the idea of expansion and Sri lanka war is part of it everybody coming behind Tamil. That is proven case

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Global singer Cher slams local officials for exploiting twin elephants

Comments - 22

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