Sri Lanka urged to instate Animal Welfare Bill after elephant dies

(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) Sri Lanka has been urged to instate the Animal Welfare Bill that will protect the country's last remaining elephants after another elephant died at a popular tourist spot.

The elephant identified as Kanakota had collapsed and died in Sigiriya recently after carrying tourists in the area.

Moving Animals, a photojournalism and filming project that shines a light on animal industries around the world, said that the young elephant's tragic and cruel death was entirely preventable.

Paul Healey of Moving Animals said that until tourists refuse to ride elephants, more of these gentle giants will continue to suffer and collapse from exhaustion.

'Sri Lankan activists and animal lovers have been campaigning tirelessly to enact this animal welfare bill that will finally change the laws and offer animals the protection they so desperately need. We urge tourists to never ride an elephant, and call on the Sri Lankan government to instate a new Animal Welfare Bill that will finally offer protection to the country's amazing array of animals and wildlife,' Paul Healey said.

The current British-colonial laws to prevent cruelty to animals in Sri Lanka have not been updated since 1907, and are completely inadequate to deal with today's challenges like elephant riding, factory farming, and unethical wildlife tourism. (Colombo Gazette)

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