There was an abundance of elephants in the country in those early days. They have always been an important part of the culture They were used by the military for riding and by the royals as a symbol of wealth and strength. ... as well as in Sri Lankan culture. Cows have short tusks usually hidden under their rashes. Current Status of Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka. This unique and exciting project gives you the chance to directly help wild elephants in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan elephant is a symbol of national heritage and of prosperity, both for its long association with wealth and royalty and for its association with Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god of wealth. Elephants - an integral part of the Sri Lankan culture. The association of Elephants in Sri Lanka and the man goes back to the pre-Christian era. The ancient Sinhalese kings captured and tamed elephants for their use. The coat of arms and the flag of Ceylon Government from 1875 to 1948 included an elephant and even today many institutions use the Sri Lankan elephant in their coat of arms and insignia. Theses , elephants are purely unable to survive in the Jungle . Elephants are Sri Lanka’s most iconic animal and occupy an important place in the local culture. Today, as wildlife tourism is worth up to 25 percent of the trillion-dollar global tourism industry, communities throughout Asia have a monetary incentive to use elephants for income generation. Aelian, quoted by Emmerson Tennent in1859, says that the export of elephants from Ceylon to India had been going on without interruption from the period of the First Punic War. Cancel Unsubscribe. The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is the largest of the four sub species of Asian elephants. Such exports are also recorded by Ptolemy in 175 AD. Loading... Unsubscribe from danaberlin84? The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin color—on its ears, face, trunk and belly. The Sinhala kings had special elephant trainers. There is a long tradition of domesticated elephants in Sri Lanka. February 1, 2018. Subscribe Subscribed Unsubscribe 9.33K. Sri Lanka's elephant crisis has reached a devastating peak, with 7 tragic deaths from poisoning in the Habarana environs – at Hiriwadunna and Thumbikulam Elephants in Sri Lankan Culture shared a post . The elephant . Sri Lanka - Yala National Park - Elephant danaberlin84. Elephants hold great cultural and religious significance in Sri Lanka; however, they’re viewed as a nuisance by many rural people, as they invade farms looking for crops. Anuradhapura was the first capital of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. Human – elephant conflict has become a burning question and therefore, it is important to open the public eye to conservation of elephants in Sri Lanka. India wanted them for use as war elephants, Myanmar as a tribute from ancient kings and Egypt probably for both war and … By this time Sri Lanka had also earned a reputation for skilled elephant management. From the earliest of times there had been a significant demand for Sri Lankan elephants from other countries. Elephants in Sri Lanka. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centres of political power and urban life in South Asia. They are also used in festivals in Sri Lanka such as the Esala Perahera. Today, as wildlife tourism is worth up to 25 percent of the trillion-dollar global tourism industry, communities throughout Asia have a monetary incentive to use elephants for income generation. The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin color—on its ears, face, trunk and belly. You’ll have a chance to sample traditional Sri Lankan food in a cooking demonstration and visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic – which houses Sri Lanka’s most precious relic, the tooth of the Buddha.