Sri Lanka seeks harmony between elephants and humans FEATURE 05/18/2010 LUNUGAMW

Sri Lanka seeks harmony between elephants and humans FEATURE 05/18/2010 LUNUGAMWEHERA — In the early hours of a hot dry day, four orphaned elephants begin a bumpy truck ride back to the jungles of southern Sri Lanka where they had been rescued from near certain death. The four baby jumbos — now aged five and six — are ready to leave the Elephant Transit Home where they have been treated and cared for since they were less than a year old. The state-run home is refuge for dozens of baby elephants who are separated from their herds, fall into wells or ditches or are shot at by angry farmers as they raid banana, rice and sugarcane farms for food. A one-hour drive takes Ollie, Toledo, Zicasso and Rani to the release site deep inside the Lunugamwehera national park. To rid them of human odour, they are hosed with elephant dung mixed in water. The wildlife department staff clasp their hands in prayer while a saffron-robed Buddhist monk chants blessings for the elephants’ future.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune  URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100518com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL No respect for the law FRONTLINE Back to a rubber stamp House focus Monks pray for peace on edge of Bangkok flashpoint NO HOLDS BARRED The old, among the new AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Voting for development SILVER LINING Congratulations, senators FEATURE Sri Lanka seeks harmony between elephants and humans