Tears

In Sri Lanka, there is a garbage dump near to the forest in Oluvil. It was a tragedy to hear in the morning (05/01/2022) that an elephant was on the verge of death in the garbage dump. I phone called immediately to wildlife officials after that I rushed to the scene to inquire with those in charge of the landfill, who also said they had also informed to the wildlife officials. As soon as I went and saw that Himalayan creation it was throbbing from time to time, curling its body in pain like a little child throbbing with pain and agony. I went near and took the photo but so much so that it could not even stand up and lost strength in it's body and it looked at me with tears in eyes. Wildlife officials who visited affected elephant with a doctor examined the elephant and reported that the elephant had a sudden blockage in the esophagus due to daily ingestion of polythene waste, which was wrapped around the food items when it was consumed. Nihal pushpakumara who was a wildlife veterinarian said that "What we notice in the elephants that died in the garbage dump was that their stomachs mostly empty (no food). Polythene bags, food wrappers, plastic & other non-digestibles were seen in bulk in their stomachs and in their food path, and the rest was water. The normal food that elephants eat and digest was not evident." At this moment of submitting the photo, Although elephant had been undergoing treatment for the past three days at the time, she passed away this morning (08/01/2022). The reason Elephants, addicted to the many types of food found in the rubbish dumped there, have completely changed their way of life. When those elephants smells food it doesn't matter if it's wrapped in paper or covered in polythene they swallow everything. After that these wastes get trapped in the elephant's stomach and cause a very painful death for the elephant without being digested. to see the elephants eating polythene, plastic and toxic chemical waste. This causes serious health issues in the elephants who also fall sick. Some have even died So far six elephants have died due to intaking toxics in oluvil & now it's seven. Not only elephants but also dogs, cats and a variety of birds are attracted to the junk food found in the garbage dump and are coming to shorten its life. There is no doubt that other elephants & others do not have similar conditions.

Easa Lebbe Muhammed Jamsith,   Sri Lanka, Oluvil