Protest stops Sri Lankan elephant bound for Auckland Zoo from flying
Ababy elephant destined for Auckland Zoo has been stopped from leaving Sri Lanka following protests from animal rights activists.
Nandi, a six-year-old female elephant from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, was gifted to New Zealand by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo in February 2016.
A zoo spokeswoman said at the time that it was the “next step in a long-standing and carefully planned programme of co-operation between Auckland Zoo and Sri Lankan authorities”.
Nandi, who was born in captivity, was the right age and had the right temperament to be rehomed, the spokeswoman said.
The Star Online reported that the activists secured a “temporary victory” on Friday, when a Sri Lankan court was assured by the government that Nandi would not be taken out of the country until a final decision on the case was made later in April.
Activist and Buddhist monk Omalpe Sobitha told AFP that Asian elephants had “very strong family ties”, and removing a baby elephant was regarded as a “sin”. Nandi’s arrival would have brought Auckland Zoo’s elephant herd to three. Anjalee, who is also from Sri Lanka’s Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, arrived in 2015, while Burma, who is originally from Myanmar, has been at the zoo since 1990. Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken said in 2016 that Nandi’s transfer to New Zealand could be a boon for the world’s Asian elephant population.
They are endangered, and there are believed to be fewer than 5000 living in the wild in Sri Lanka.
“Elephants are extraordinarily powerful ambassadors for wildlife and the natural world. One of the many reasons we are very excited about Nandi joining Anjalee and Burma [is] to become part of a future sustainable breeding herd.”
On Sunday, Wilcken said the zoo did not know the details of the court case, and could not comment on it as it was a matter for the Sri Lankan government.
“What we can say is that we are very much looking forward to welcoming Nandi to be part of our elephant family and to strengthening the long-standing close working relationship we already have with Sri Lanka to assist both captive and wild Asian elephants in their country.”
Wilcken said Anjalee was in “exceptionally good health” and had bonded strongly with Burma.
“Just as we’re providing for Anjalee, we can offer Nandi an exceptional quality of life in a safe, secure and happy environment, where she can thrive.”