SRI LANKA: The Elephant and the Mouse

Sri Lanka is home to the Sri Lankan elephant, a subspecies of the Asian elephant and the largest of its kind.

They are endemic to Sri Lanka, meaning they are found only on the island, primarily in dry-zone national parks like Minneriya, Udawalawe, and Yala.

Elephants are an important part of Sri Lanka’s culture, history and ecosystem.

Elephants are deeply respected in Buddhism and Hinduism, often associated with wisdom, strength, and prosperity.

Historically, they were used by kings for war, transportation, and religious processions.

There are an estimated 7,000 wild elephants in Sri Lanka today.

 

 They are bit bigger than the average household pet. They can be 2 to 3.5 meters (6.6 to 11.5 feet) tall at their shoulders and can weigh 2,000 to 5,500 kg (4,400 to 12,100 lbs). From head to tail they can be 5.5 to 6.5 meters (18 to 21 feet).

To carry that weight they have spongy feet.

I wonder if elephants ever wonder if their skinny tails make their butts look big?

 

Some interesting trivia about Sri Lankan elephants that you can bring out for discussion at your next Cocktail Party: Sri Lanka elephants have smaller ears than African elephants

Only about 7% of Sri Lankan male elephants have tusks (compared to African elephants, where both males and females have tusks.)

They have dark gray skin with patches of depigmentation, especially on the face and ears.

Typically they live 60 to 70 years.

An adult Sri Lankan elephant consumes 150 to 200 kg (330 to 440 lbs) of food DAILY. They spend up to 16 hours a day feeding! (Which is probably about how much time a domestic pet sleeps in a day.)

 

 

Their diet consists primarily of grasses, but also leaves, bark and they love wild fruits like jackfruit and wood apple.

 

 

They drink 100–200 liters (26–53 gallons) of water per day often visiting lakes and rivers multiple times each day.

And all this input creates a lot of output.

Some other trivia facts to keep in your back pocket.

Sri Lanka has several conservation programs and elephant sanctuaries.The sanctuaries play a crucial role in preserving these iconic animals for future generations. 

Conservationists are working on eco-friendly solutions, such as wildlife corridors and sustainable farming practices to ensure elephants and humans can coexist.

We went to the Millenium Elephant Foundation where they focus on improving the lives of already captive elephants. They provide a safe environment for elephants retired from work or rescued from poor conditions. MEF provides veterinary care, food, and enrichment activities to improve elephant well-being. MEF focuses on elephant rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible tourism.

We walked with the elephant and his mahout.

A "mahout" is responsible for the care, training, and guidance of the elephant. The mahout typically has a deep understanding of the elephant's behavior and needs and they often form a close bond with the animal. Generally, each elephant has one mahout.

I did not expect to give an elephant a bath and was quite surprised when the mahout motioned for me to join him in the water.  

 

I used coconut shells to scrub her. Apparently the harder the better since she considers it like a massage.

 

 

I will admit, John and I were both a little nervous being so close to an elephant – they’re big! It made me think of a quote from Pierre Trudeau, a former Prime Minster of Canada, who once said of the relationship between Canada and the U.S.:   

 

“Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”