A recent initiative to replace chains with belts for restraining captive elephants has generated varied responses among caretakers, temple officials, and animal welfare advocates in Sri Lanka. The shift aims to improve animal welfare by reducing discomfort, but practical concerns remain regarding the effectiveness and safety of belts compared to traditional chains.
Pradeep Nilanga Dela, Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and president of the Domesticated Elephant Owners Association, highlighted challenges encountered during initial use of belts. He noted that when his three elephants were tethered with belts, they developed rashes caused by the belts cutting into their legs, particularly when wet from water or urine. Dela emphasized concerns over ventilation due to the belts’ wide surface area and questioned their reliability, especially with more aggressive animals.
The Domesticated Elephant Owners Association echoed these reservations, urging a broader discussion involving veterinarians and Ayurvedic practitioners to evaluate the belts’ safety and practicality fully. Secretary Dharmasiri Bandara Karunathilake pointed out the specific difficulty of managing elephants in musth, a period when male elephants can become violent, and called for ensuring the safety of both animals and handlers before widespread adoption.
Despite these concerns, several prominent elephants participated in the recent Kandy Esala Perahera spectacle with leg belts for the first time. These included well-known elephants such as Kotte Raja, Pulasthi Raja, Aruna, Esala, Dewmini Mangalala, Sindu, Nalaka, Migara, and Sadew, although the Temple of the Sacred Tooth’s tuskers were not fitted with belts during the event. The leg protection belts consist of three layers of heavy-duty cloth used in hauling vehicles, reinforced with iron plates secured by strong locks designed to withstand forces up to three tonnes.
Supporting the initiative, Ven. Magal-Kande Sudaththa Thera, president of the National Movement to Protect Tamed Elephants, expressed cautious optimism. He said that if belts do not cause discomfort or complications, they could offer a less invasive method to restrain elephants, balancing the well-being of the animals with the need for safety.
Animal welfare activist Champa Fernando, who developed and supplied these handmade belts to over 30 elephants, clarified that the belts are offered at the request of owners and take several months to produce. She stressed that the belts were conceived before the recent revisions to Sri Lanka’s animal welfare legislation, which has caused confusion among elephant handlers due to ambiguous provisions surrounding cultural exemptions and the use of heavy chains.
Elephant owners who have begun using the belts described mixed initial experiences. Ven. Dr. Aluthnuwara Anuruddha Nayaka Thera, custodian of Kotte Raja, said the belt had been in use for about a week without issues but required longer observation to assess its suitability fully. Similarly, caretakers of Dewmini, a dwarf elephant owned by Sri Sambodhi Viharaya, noted that a foreign donor funded the belt’s production for the recent perahera.
Aruna’s caretaker, Ven. Walpola Sujatha Thera of Oruthota Nugehene Purana Vihara, said the belt offered more comfort compared to chains due to cloth padding and had been used successfully in the latest procession. While the hind-leg belt required redesigning, initial feedback was positive regarding the animal’s relief.
As Sri Lanka continues to explore alternatives, the debate over the best method to restrain captive elephants underscores the complexities of balancing cultural traditions, animal welfare, and handler safety. Further evaluation and dialogue among stakeholders will be necessary to determine whether belts can become a viable standard.